NEW DELHI: Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi has been given a formal warning by the ICC for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the third ODI against India at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.The left-handed batsman was found guilty of breaching Article 2.10.10 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Players’ Support Personnel, which relates to the intentional infliction or avoidance of damage on the field by the batsman.In an official statement, the ICC confirmed that one demerit was added to Shahidi’s disciplinary record, his first offense in 24 months.Shahidi admitted the offense and accepted the sanction proposed by ICC Elite Panel match referee Ranjan Madugalle, eliminating the need for a formal hearing. The charge was leveled by on-field umpires Chris Gaffaney and Rohan Pandit, along with third umpire Richard Illingworth and fourth umpire Virender Sharma.The Afghanistan skipper has already been unofficially cautioned twice for running onto the field while batting. The official warning came in Afghanistan’s 31st over. However, Shahidi again ran down the pitch in the 40th over, prompting the umpires to award Afghanistan a five-run penalty.Under ICC regulations, Level 1 offenses carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and can attract a maximum fine of 50 percent of the player’s match fee along with one or two demerit points.
The century went in vain as India finished 3-0
Despite the disciplinary setback, Shahidi produced a fighting century in the deciding series. He scored 102, his maiden ODI hundred, but Afghanistan were bowled out for 218 in 44.2 overs.Prasidh Krishna bowled for India, taking his first five wickets with figures of 5-23. His early burst shattered the Afghan top order and put the visitors under pressure.India’s response was clinical. Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed an unbeaten 110 off 86 deliveries while Rohit Sharma contributed 79 as the hosts cruised to a nine-wicket victory with 128 balls to spare. The opening pair added 170 runs, including five penalty runs awarded during Afghanistan’s innings.The win completed a comprehensive 3-0 run and gave India their first ODI series triumph under captain Shubman Gill.
Shahidi admits that fur is short in Afghanistan
Reflecting on the defeat, Shahidi admitted that his team was below their best and admitted that playing in India remains a big challenge.“I don’t think we were good enough. We have talented guys but playing against India in India is tough. We will learn from this and improve moving forward,” Shahidi said.He also pointed out that Afghanistan had been away from ODI cricket for eight months prior to the series and emphasized that the team will look to bounce back in their upcoming assignment against Ireland under a new coaching set-up.
