Pakistan’s captain-in-waiting, Babar Azam, has been fined 10 per cent of his match fee for whacking a stump with his bat moments after being bowled in the third ODI against Sri Lanka in Lahore. The sanction, confirmed late on Monday by the ICC, falls under Article 2.2 of the governing body’s code – “abuse of cricket equipment, ground equipment or fittings during an international match”.
Key facts first.
• The flashpoint came in the 21st over of Pakistan’s chase, Azam on 34, beaten by leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay.
• Umpires Alex Wharf and Rashid Riaz reported the incident on-field; TV official Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Faisal Afridi backed them up.
• Match referee Ali Naqvi proposed the penalty, which Azam accepted.
• One demerit point goes on the batter’s record – his first in the current two-year cycle.
“The player admitted the offence and accepted the sanction,” an ICC release stated, meaning no formal hearing was required.
Moments after the decision, Azam walked off shaking his head, then tapped his bat against the base of the middle stump hard enough to leave it rocking. It was frustration rather than malice, yet the code is clear – damage or visible aggression towards the furniture is a breach.
Head coach Azhar Mahmood, speaking to local media, kept it measured: “Babar knows the standards he sets. He’s addressed it in the dressing-room and moved on.” Azam himself offered a brief apology through the PCB press office: “I let emotion get the better of me. It won’t happen again.”
Pakistan later wrapped up a 3-0 sweep, their No.3 finishing the series top-scorer with 165 runs, including a 20th ODI hundred in the opener. Analyst Sana Mir, on PTV, balanced praise with a reminder: “He has carried their batting, but composure is part of leadership.”
Azam’s next assignment arrives quickly – a home T20I tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe starting Tuesday. The demerit point will sit on his record until November 2027; four points inside two years translate into a suspension. For now, it is only a rap on the knuckles and a lighter wallet for Pakistan’s premier batter.
