Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran has been hit with a 15 per cent fine and a single demerit point after venting his frustration during the third ODI against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi on 14 October.
Umpires reported the 22-year-old for striking “an item of equipment near the dressing-room area” with his bat moments after he was caught for 95 from 111 deliveries. The charge falls under Article 2.2 of the ICC code, which deals with “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment, or fixtures and fittings during an international match”.
Match referee Graeme Labrooy proposed the sanction and, because Zadran accepted responsibility, no formal hearing was required.
It is Zadran’s first demerit point in the current 24-month cycle. Four such points would trigger suspension points, with two suspension points carrying a ban of one Test or two limited-overs internationals, whichever comes first.
The dismissal was Zadran’s second score of 95 in as many matches – a pair of near-centuries that still formed the backbone of Afghanistan’s 3-0 series sweep. His 213 series runs earned him the Player-of-the-Series award, yet the repeated misses on three figures clearly grated. A senior Afghanistan support-staff member, speaking on background, said the player was “gutted at falling short again but knows he crossed a line straight away”.
Former Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan, analysing the incident on local television, was sympathetic: “He’s young, he’s hungry and he wanted that hundred badly. However, channelled the wrong way, that hunger hurts the team’s image. He will learn.”
While bat-breaking or helmet-throwing scenes remain relatively rare in international cricket, the ICC has made it clear that even off-field equipment abuse carries consequences. The scaled penalty system is designed to nip repeat behaviour in the bud without lengthy bans for first-time offenders.
For Afghanistan, the bigger picture is bright. Zadran’s consistency at the top of the order underpinned comfortable victories by 67 runs, five wickets and 43 runs respectively. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi praised the youngster’s composure during the series, adding simply, “We back him. One of these days the hundred will come.”
Fans will hope that when the next opportunity arises, Zadran’s bat makes headlines for the right reasons.
