Pakistan’s Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas penalised by ICC after Tarouba Test

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has penalised Pakistan fast bowlers Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Abbas for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the opening Test of the ICC World Test Championship series against the West Indies in Tarouba.

Khurram Shahzad was fined 15 per cent of his match fee, while Mohammad Abbas received an official reprimand after both were found to have violated Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which relates to using language, actions or gestures that disparage or could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter following their dismissal.

In addition to the sanctions, both players were handed one demerit point on their disciplinary records. It is the first offence for each player within the past 24 months.

According to the ICC, Khurram was punished for celebrating aggressively in close proximity to dismissed West Indies batter Shai Hope during the 17th over of the hosts’ second innings, with the celebration deemed capable of provoking an aggressive response.

Meanwhile, Abbas was reprimanded for celebrating in an animated manner near dismissed batter Jomel Warrican after claiming the final wicket of the innings.

Both Pakistani bowlers admitted to the offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by ICC Elite Panel Match Referee Jeff Crowe, eliminating the need for formal disciplinary hearings. The charges were brought by on-field umpires Alex Wharf and Richard Kettleborough, along with third umpire Jayaraman Madanagopal.

Under the ICC Code of Conduct, Level 1 offences carry penalties ranging from an official reprimand to a fine of up to 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, along with one or two demerit points.

The disciplinary action comes a day after Pakistan suffered a 90-run defeat to the West Indies in the first Test of the two-match series, with the visitors falling short in their fourth-innings chase on the fourth day in Tarouba.