Bangladesh’s all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan faced disciplinary action after an unsportsmanlike incident during the first Test against Pakistan. The International Cricket Council (ICC) fined Shakib 10 percent of his match fee and issued him a demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct.
The incident took place on the final day of the Rawalpindi Test when Shakib was bowling the 33rd over. Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan paused to assess the fielding setup, which seemingly frustrated Shakib.
In a moment of irritation, Shakib hurled the ball above Rizwan’s head, shocking both Rizwan and the on-field umpire Richard Kettleborough. The umpire immediately reprimanded Shakib for his unsportsmanlike behavior.
Shakib’s actions were deemed a violation of Article 2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which addresses inappropriate and potentially dangerous actions, such as throwing the ball or other equipment at or near players, officials, or other personnel during an international match. The ICC also penalized both Pakistan and Bangladesh for maintaining a slow over-rate during the Test.
The final day of the Test saw Bangladesh’s spinners dominating the match. Their efforts led the visitors to a historic 10-wicket victory, marking Bangladesh’s first-ever Test win against Pakistan.
Opening batters Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam comfortably chased down the modest 30-run target, scoring an unbeaten 15 and nine runs, respectively.
Earlier in the match, Bangladesh’s spinners, particularly Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan, played a crucial role in restricting Pakistan to 146 in their second innings. Despite a valiant 51-run effort by Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan was unable to recover from 108-6, eventually falling to Mehidy Miraz’s spin.
This incident has sparked discussions about player conduct in international cricket, emphasizing the importance of maintaining sportsmanship on the field. As the series progresses, both teams will need to focus on discipline and strategy to ensure fair and competitive play.
