Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha has been officially reprimanded by the ICC for a Level 1 breach of the Code of Conduct following a heated reaction to a controversial dismissal. The incident occurred during the third ODI between Bangladesh and Pakistan on Friday, triggered by a run-out involving bowler Mehidy Hasan Miraz that left the Pakistani batter visibly incensed.
ICC scolds Salman Agha for aggressive reaction following controversial dismissal
The drama unfolded during the 39th over when Mohammad Rizwan played a delivery back toward the right of Miraz. After the bowler stopped the ball with his foot, Agha—who was at the non-striker’s end—remained out of his crease and in close proximity to Miraz. In a gesture of sportsmanship, Agha bent down to retrieve the ball and hand it back, but Miraz quickly intervened, swooping in to collect the ball himself and dislodging the bails with an under-arm throw while Agha was still stranded.
The decision was referred to the third umpire, who ultimately ruled that Agha was out. The verdict sparked an immediate outburst from the batter, who made his frustrations clear as he left the field. Before exiting the playing area, Agha threw his batting gloves and helmet to the ground near the boundary ropes, a display of dissent that ultimately led to the ICC disciplinary action.
“Agha was found to have breached Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match. In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to Agha’s disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period,” the ICC said in a statement.
“Agha admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Neeyamur Rashid Rahul of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees, so there was no need for a formal hearing. On-field umpires Adrian Holdstock and Tanvir Ahmed, third umpire Kumar Dharmasena and fourth umpire Masudur Rahman Mukul levelled the charge. Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points,” it added.
I thought he can’t get me run-out now: Salman Ali Agha
During the post-match press conference, Agha addressed the controversial moment and offered his perspective on the dismissal. He took the opportunity to walk through his thought process, specifically explaining what was going through his mind as he reached down to pick up the ball just before the run-out occurred.
“The ball hit on my pad and then my bat. So I thought he can’t get me run-out now, because the ball already hit on my pad and my bat. I was just trying to give him the ball back. I was not looking for the run or anything like that, but he already decided to make the run-out. It was just heat-of-the-moment kind of stuff. If you ask me what I would have done, I would have done things differently. But it was everything, whatever happened after that, it was in the moment,” Agha said at the post-match presentation.