In the ongoing first Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, senior all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been fined 10 percent of his match fee for a breach of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Code of Conduct. The incident occurred when Shakib, frustrated with Mohammad Rizwan's apparent delays, threw the ball at him as he prepared to face a delivery on Sunday.
On Day 5 of the Test, Shakib was penalised with a fine and a demerit point following a found violation of Article 2.9 of the ICC's Code of Conduct, which pertains to the inappropriate or dangerous throwing of a ball (or similar equipment) at any player or official during an international match, as stated by the ICC in a release on August 26.
The incident transpired during the 33rd over of Pakistan's second innings, when Rizwan was not ready to receive Shakib's delivery. In a moment of frustration, Shakib threw the ball towards the wicketkeeper-batter, narrowly missing him. The ball was ultimately retrieved by wicketkeeper Litton Das, but the actions did not go unnoticed by umpire Richard Kettleborough, who appeared visibly disapproving.
This episode is not isolated, as Shakib has a history of heated reactions on the field. Recently, he has made headlines for controversial reasons, including being named in connection with an alleged murder amidst political unrest and violence in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has even received a legal notice requesting Shakib's suspension from international cricket due to these allegations.
Despite this controversy, Shakib played a crucial role in Bangladesh's historic first-ever Test victory over Pakistan. Although he struggled with the bat, he took four wickets, including three in the second innings, helping to bowl Pakistan out for just 146 runs. With a first-innings lead of 117, Bangladesh successfully chased down a modest target of 30 runs to win by 10 wickets.
Additionally, Pakistan was found to be six overs short during the match, resulting in a deduction of six points from their World Test Championship tally. Bangladesh, however, was docked three points for being three overs short of the required over-rate, despite their impressive victory over their Asian opponents.