Shakib Al Hasan, Nurul fined for breach of ICC Code of Conduct
Bangladesh cricket team captain Shakib Al Hasan and his team member Nurul Hasan have been fined with 25 percent of their match fees. Also, they have been handed with one demerit point each for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct after their win over Sri Lanka on 16th March, Friday. The exciting match, which ended with Bangladesh's narrow win to dump the hosts out of the tournament, took an ugly turn in the final over of the former's run chase.
The fine comes after a doubt that was created over a bouncer after which Shakib was reprimanded for his gesture during that over, as he seemed to be signalling to his batsmen to come off the field after Mustafizur Rahman was run out of a delivery which was first ruled as a no-ball for being the second bouncer of the over, the decision that was later changed by the square leg umpire.
Shakib said at the end of the match "The square leg umpire had signalled it a no-ball and then upon discussions, changed the call, which I don't think is the right decision,". He also said, "I don't know if the first bouncer was called as one for the over but when the second bouncer was bowled, the umpire did call it a no ball,". However, Nurul's was fined for waving his finger at Srilankan player Thisara Perera.
According to an ICC release, both Shakib and Nurul pleaded guilty and accepted the sanctions put in place by match referee Chris Broad after charges were announced against the duo by on-field umpires Raveendra Wimalasiri and Ruchira Palliyaguruge, third umpire Ranmore Martinesz and fourth umpire Lyndon Hannibal.
"Friday's incidents were disappointing as you don't want to see such player behaviour at any level of cricket. I understand that it was a tense and an edge-of-the-seat match with a place in the final on the line, but the actions of the two players were unacceptable and cannot be condoned as they clearly went overboard. Had the fourth umpire not stopped Shakib and the fielders remonstrating, and then the on-field umpires not intervened between Nurul and Thisara, things could have become worse," umpire Chris Broad said.
