Asif Ali and Fareed Ahmad fined 25% of match fee for altercation

Both players admitted their offence and accepted the charge

Asif Ali and Fareed Ahmad have been fined 25% pf their match fees for a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct in the Asia Cup fixture between Afghanistan and Pakistan on September 7.

The incident occurred in the 19th over of the second innings in a tense match, when Fareed dismissed Asif to leave Afghanistan one wicket away from victory. Following the dismissal, Fareed celebrated in close proximity to the dismissed Asif, who reacted by shoving the bowler. A brief altercation ensued.

“Asif breached Article 2.6 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “using a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting during an International Match” while Fareed was found to have breached Article 2.1.12, 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,” the ICC said in a statement.

Both players admitted their offence and accepted the sanctions proposed by match referee Andy Pycroft.

The game, which became ill-tempered towards the end, also saw crowd trouble after Pakistan won in dramatic fashion by one wicket thanks to two sixes by Naseem Shah off the first two balls of the 20th over. Several Afghanistan fans were detained by police following altercations in the stands, though no arrests were made. PCB chairman Ramiz Raja said the board would write to the ICC to “lodge a protest” over the “gruesome visuals” that followed the game.