Afghanistan’s Asia Cup exit was followed by minor disciplinary action, with spinners Noor Ahmad and Mujeeb Ur Rahman each receiving one demerit point for Level-1 breaches of the ICC code of conduct during Thursday’s meeting with Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi.
The ICC confirmed the penalties on Friday morning. Noor fell foul of Article 2.8 – dissent at an umpire’s decision – after protesting when a delivery in the 16th over was called wide. Mujeeb was charged under Article 2.2 – abuse of equipment – having snapped a stump with the towel he keeps tucked into his waistband between overs.
“As both players admitted the offences and accepted the sanctions, no formal hearing was required,” the ICC release stated. Match referee Richie Richardson approved the punishment proposed by on-field umpires Asif Yaqoob and Virender Sharma, third umpire Faisal Afridi and fourth umpire Rohan Pandit.
Demerit points stay on an international record for two years; four points trigger a one-match ban. For now, Noor and Mujeeb carry only a warning, though repeated lapses could prove costly in a busy calendar that includes next year’s T20 World Cup.
Afghanistan lost the game by six wickets, ending their campaign. Both spinners took a wicket apiece, but a disciplined Sri Lanka chase, led by Pathum Nissanka, eased past the 142-run target with five balls to spare. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi admitted afterwards that “our fielding and discipline slipped at the wrong time.”
Analytically, the incidents hint at simmering frustration in an Afghan side still learning to close out tight contests against top-tier opposition. Head coach Jonathan Trott spoke last week about “channeling passion in the right direction”; the demerit points underline that balancing act.
For now the matter is closed, the players are lighter by one demerit point, and Afghanistan turn their attention to an October tour of Zimbabwe, where they will hope lessons have been absorbed.
