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Shakib Al Hasan, an all-rounder for Bangladesh, was given one demerit point and fined 10% of his match fee for a Level 1 violation of the ICC code of conduct during the Rawalpindi Test against Pakistan.
Shakib was about to bowl on the fifth day of the Test match when he discovered that Mohammad Rizwan, the batter, wasn’t yet ready to face the ball. After Rizwan was sent away by the bowler, he spoke with Litton Das, the Bangladeshi keeper. The bowler pitched the ball to Litton in an angle that went over the batter’s head as Rizwan turned to face Shakib. Following the incident, Shakib was observed receiving criticism from umpire Richard Kettleborough on the pitch.
Match referee Ranjan Madugalle ruled that Shakib had breached Article 2.9 of the ICC code of conduct, which relates to “throwing a ball (or any other item of cricket equipment such as a water bottle) at or near a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other third person in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner during an International Match.”
There was no need for a formal hearing because Shakib acknowledged the wrongdoing and accepted Madugalle’s suggested punishment. The accusations were made by fourth umpire Rashid Riaz, third umpire Michael Gough, and on-field umpires Adrian Holdstock and Kettleborough.
For the past 24 months, this was Shakib’s first demerit point. A player’s demerit points will be changed to suspension points if they accrue four or more throughout a 24-month period. A player who accumulates enough suspension points will be barred from all international matches; Test matches are for two suspension points, while ODIs and T20Is are worth one suspension point apiece.
Shakib is playing this series under a lot of pressure, despite being a major factor in Bangladesh’s victory against Rawalpindi (3 for 44 in Pakistan’s second innings). In connection with the recent student protests that led to the overthrow of the Sheikh Hasina government, 147 persons have been charged with murder. He is one of them. The case was filed in Dhaka. Shakib was a member of parliament for Hasina’s Awami League.