Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh: Taskin Ahmed, Blessing Muzarabani fined 15 percent match fees for breach of ICC code of conduct

Harare: Bangladesh player Taskin Ahmed and Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani have both been fined 15 per cent of their match fees for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct (inappropriate physical contact) during the second day of the one-off Test here. The players were found to have breached Article 2.1.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator) during an International Match.” In addition to this, one demerit point each has been added to the disciplinary records of the players, both of whom did not have any previous offence in a 24-month period.

Blessing Muzarabani and Taskin Ahmed face off. pic.twitter.com/Z4dV07Rgoj

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 8, 2021

The incident occurred in the 85th over of Bangladesh’s first innings on Thursday. After Muzarabani had bowled a delivery to Taskin, the two players moved aggressively towards each other, and contact was made after words were exchanged face to face. Both players admitted the offence and accepted the sanctions proposed by match referee Andy Pycroft and ratified by the ICC Cricket Operations department as per the COVID-19 interim playing regulations. There was no need for formal hearings. On-field umpires Marais Erasmus and Langton Rusere, third umpire Iknow Chabi and fourth official Forster Mutizwa levelled the charges. Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.