Cricket

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to pardon opener Fakhar Zaman for his breach of the players' code of conduct, allowing him to be included in the central contracts and the national white-ball squad.Zaman was dropped from the central contracts list and ignored for the series in Australia and Zimbabwe after he tweeted a controversial comment about captain Babar Azam. The PCB issued a show cause notice, asking Zaman to submit a reply or face disciplinary action.According to a PCB source, Zaman's reply expressed remorse and apology. Internal discussions between PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, selectors, and captain Mohammad Rizwan have been positive for Zaman's reinstatement.The selectors have advised Zaman to focus on rehabilitating his knee injury before the white-ball series in South Africa in December. He is expected to be included in the squad for the South Africa matches and subsequently added to the central contracts list.Rizwan and the selectors believe that Zaman is still a valuable asset for the white-ball squad, especially with the Champions Trophy tournament scheduled to be held in Pakistan early next year.A committee will be formed to accept Zaman's reply to the show cause notice, clearing him for selection. He will undergo a fitness test before the South Africa tour selection.

MS Dhoni's Rare Outburst: A Breach of the IPL Code of ConductMS Dhoni, renowned for his composure under pressure, rarely succumbs to emotional outbursts. However, during the 2019 IPL season, fans witnessed a rare moment when his calm demeanor shattered. In a match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), Dhoni's frustration boiled over due to a controversial no-ball call, leading to a breach of the IPL Code of Conduct.Former CSK teammate and current Gujarat Titans pacer Mohit Sharma recently shed light on this unusual incident on the "2 Sloggers" podcast. Recalling the event, Mohit revealed that Dhoni was already furious after getting out and was sitting in the dugout when the drama unfolded. In the final over of the match, Ben Stokes bowled a high full toss to Mitchell Santner, which appeared to be a no-ball. The umpire at square leg initially raised his arm to signal it, but quickly retracted the call, deciding it wasn't a no-ball.This reversal of decision enraged Dhoni, who stormed onto the field to confront the umpires. "We were in the dugout, shouting, 'Don't go, don't go.' But he didn’t even look back. The way he walked onto the field, (laga ki bhai sher ghus gaya hai) it felt like a lion had entered the arena," Mohit recalled.Despite his teammates' efforts to hold him back, Dhoni's frustration got the best of him as he fiercely contested the call. "He had just got out and was already furious. He wanted to be in there because generally, he doesn't leave it to others. He came, sat and all of a sudden, the incident happened. He asked, 'Did he (the umpire) give it a no-ball?' We were like, 'Yeah, he did signal.' Then he just didn't stop," he added.Dhoni’s outburst led to a fine of 50% of his match fees for violating the IPL Code of Conduct, marking one of the few instances where he allowed his emotions to boil over.

Former Sri Lankan cricketer Dulip Samaraweera has been handed a 20-year ban by Cricket Australia (CA) for "utterly reprehensible" conduct. The ban prohibits him from holding any position within CA, state associations, or Big Bash League (BBL) and Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) clubs during that period.Samaraweera, 52, was found to have breached CA's Code of Conduct during his tenure as a Cricket Victoria employee. An investigation by CA's Integrity Department was initiated following complaints about his behavior.The investigation revealed that Samaraweera had engaged in inappropriate behavior involving a player, violating section 2.23 of CA's Code of Conduct. The specific details of the behavior have not been disclosed.Cricket Victoria CEO Nick Cummins strongly condemned Samaraweera's actions. "The conduct was utterly reprehensible and a betrayal of everything we stand for at Cricket Victoria," Cummins said. "The victim has shown incredible courage in speaking up, and we will continue to support her."CA emphasized its commitment to providing a safe environment for all players and employees. "The welfare of those subjected to mistreatment is paramount," CA stated.Samaraweera, who played seven Tests and five ODIs for Sri Lanka, had been a long-time assistant coach for the Victoria women's team and the Melbourne Stars WBBL franchise. He was promoted to the head coaching role for the Victoria women's team earlier this year but resigned after just two weeks due to a disagreement over staff appointments.The 20-year ban is a significant punishment for Samaraweera, effectively ending his coaching career in Australia. It sends a strong message that CA will not tolerate any form of misconduct or abuse within the sport.

Afghanistan's charismatic captain, Rashid Khan, has faced disciplinary action from the International Cricket Council (ICC) for a breach of the code of conduct during their Super Eight match against Bangladesh in Kingstown on July 24.The incident occurred in the 20th over of Afghanistan's innings. Rashid, after hitting the ball into the offside, attempted to secure the second run to retain strike. However, his teammate, Karim Janat, sent him back. An enraged Rashid was forced to turn around mid-pitch and hurled his bat in Janat's direction.As a consequence, Rashid has received a demerit point on his disciplinary record. This is his first offense within a 24-month period. Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of a reprimand and a maximum penalty of a 50% fine of a player's match fee, along with one or two demerit points.Despite the incident, Rashid played a pivotal role in Afghanistan's eight-run victory over Bangladesh via the DLS method. He scored a quickfire 19 off 10 balls and claimed impressive figures of 4 for 23, leading his team to their first-ever semi-final appearance at a T20 World Cup.Afghanistan will now face South Africa in Trinidad on June 26 for a place in the final. Rashid's leadership and all-round abilities will be crucial as they aim to create history and reach the pinnacle of the tournament.

Shimron Hetmyer Fined for Code of Conduct Breach in IPL Qualifier 2Rajasthan Royals batsman Shimron Hetmyer has been fined 10% of his match fee for breaching the Indian Premier League (IPL) Code of Conduct during Qualifier 2 against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The incident occurred in Chennai on Friday, where SRH emerged victorious by 36 runs.Hetmyer's offense was not explicitly stated by the organizers, but it is believed to stem from his reaction after being dismissed in the 14th over of the chase. Following his dismissal by Abhishek Sharma, Hetmyer attempted to smash the stumps in frustration.The IPL issued a statement confirming the fine: "Shimron Hetmyer of the Rajasthan Royals has been fined 10% of his match fees for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during the Qualifier 2 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on May 24.""Hetmyer committed a Level 1 offense under Article 2.2 of the IPL Code of Conduct. He admitted to the offense and accepted the Match Referee's sanction. For Level 1 breaches of the Code of Conduct, the Match Referee's decision is final and binding."In the match, Sunrisers Hyderabad posted a competitive total of 175 for nine, thanks to Heinrich Klaasen's 34-ball 50 and contributions from Travis Head (34) and Rahul Tripathi (37). The Rajasthan Royals' chase was derailed by the SRH spinners, with Shahbaz Ahmed (3/23) and Abhishek Sharma (2/24) sharing five wickets. Pat Cummins (1/30) and T Natarajan (1/13) also chipped in with wickets.Hetmyer's fine serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining composure and adhering to the IPL's Code of Conduct. As the tournament progresses, players must remain mindful of their actions and avoid any behavior that could result in disciplinary action.

Kolkata Knight Riders' Ramandeep Singh Fined for Code of Conduct BreachKolkata Knight Riders' medium pacer Ramandeep Singh has been penalized for violating the Indian Premier League (IPL) Code of Conduct during their match against Mumbai Indians at the Eden Gardens. The 27-year-old was found guilty of a Level 1 offense under Article 2.20 of the Code of Conduct.Singh acknowledged his wrongdoing and accepted the Match Referee's sanction. As per the IPL Code of Conduct, the Match Referee's decision for Level 1 breaches is final and binding.The incident occurred during the rain-affected match between KKR and Mumbai Indians on Saturday. KKR emerged victorious by 18 runs, securing their place in the playoffs as the first team this season.Singh contributed 17 runs off 8 balls in the match. However, his actions on the field led to the disciplinary action. The specific details of the offense have not been disclosed.The IPL Code of Conduct aims to maintain fair play and sportsmanship throughout the tournament. It outlines various offenses and corresponding penalties, ranging from fines to suspensions.By adhering to the Code of Conduct, players and teams ensure a level playing field and uphold the integrity of the IPL.

Rajasthan Royals Captain Sanju Samson Fined for Code of Conduct ViolationDuring Rajasthan Royals' 20-run defeat to Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, captain Sanju Samson breached the IPL Code of Conduct, resulting in a fine of 30% of his match earnings.Samson's offense, which was not explicitly stated, is believed to have stemmed from a dispute with the umpires following his dismissal in the 16th over. The RR captain questioned the third umpire's decision to rule out a catch taken by Shai Hope near the boundary ropes.Samson's dissatisfaction was evident as he initially turned towards the pavilion but then stopped to engage in a discussion with the on-field umpires.The IPL issued a statement confirming Samson's Level 1 offense under Article 2.8 of the IPL's Code of Conduct. The statement read, "Samson committed a Level 1 offence under Article 2.8 of the IPL's Code of Conduct. He admitted to the offence and accepted the Match Referee's sanction. For Level 1 breaches of the Code of Conduct, the Match Referee's decision is final and binding."Article 2.8 of the IPL's Code of Conduct defines a Level 1 offense as "excessive, obvious disappointment with an Umpire's decision; an obvious delay in resuming play or leaving the wicket; requesting a referral to the TV Umpire and arguing or entering into a prolonged discussion with the Umpire about his/her decision."This is not the first time Samson has been fined for a Code of Conduct violation. On April 10, he was fined Rs 12 lakh for RR's slow overrate in their match against the Gujarat Titans.Samson's fine serves as a reminder to players of the importance of adhering to the IPL's Code of Conduct. The code is in place to ensure fair play and maintain the integrity of the tournament.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pacer Harshit Rana has once again found himself in hot water with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for his on-field celebrations. Rana, who has already been penalized twice this season for similar offenses, couldn't resist repeating his antics in the IPL 2024 match against Lucknow Super Giants.Despite being handed a 100% fine on his match fee and a one-match suspension for breach of IPL Code of Conduct, Rana managed to "tease" the BCCI with his latest celebration. The uncapped Indian pacer kept a finger on his mouth after dismissing a Lucknow batsman, prompting fans to speculate that he was mocking the cricket board.KKR also decided to share the picture of Rana's celebration on social media, further fueling the controversy. The BCCI is yet to comment on the incident, but it is likely that Rana will face further disciplinary action.Rana's previous celebration, which earned him a suspension, came in the match against Delhi Capitals. The pacer had celebrated a wicket by running towards the boundary line and jumping over the advertising hoardings. The BCCI deemed this celebration to be "excessive" and "against the spirit of the game."The BCCI has been cracking down on excessive celebrations in recent years, with the aim of maintaining the decorum of the game. However, some players have argued that the rules are too strict and stifle their creativity.It remains to be seen whether the BCCI will take offense to Rana's latest celebration and hand him another penalty. The pacer has already admitted to the offense and accepted the sanction for his previous celebration, but it is possible that the BCCI will view his latest antics as a deliberate provocation.