The Apex Cricket Council (ACC) issued a reprimand to Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz following his on-field actions in the World Cup match against England at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Sunday, October 15, 2023. Gurbaz, who scored 80, faced an unfortunate run-out that concluded his innings. On his way back, the 21-year-old expressed frustration by ‘slamming his bat on the boundary rope. He even slammed a chair as stated in the official announcement.
Jeff Crowe who is also a member of the Emirates Elite Panel of Match Referees, recommended a single demerit point for Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Following Gurbaz’s acknowledgement of the offence, the demerit point was officially recorded on his disciplinary record. This incident marked Gurbaz’s first offence within a 24-month period. A player faces suspension once they accumulate four or more demerit points. But it has to be in the same timeframe, as these points are then converted into suspension points.
“Gurbaz 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,” the statement further added.
“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,” ACC further clarified.
Gurbaz played a vital role in this historic triumph
Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s impressive innings of 80 was the top run-getter for the team. He was also well-supported wicket-keeper batsman Ikram Alikhil who scored 58. With the help of this Afghanistan set a competitive total of 284 against England. In Delhi, England’s bowling performance was subpar as so often in the tournament. Adil Rashid emerged as the standout bowler, finishing with figures of 3 for 42. This left England with a challenging task ahead to chase down the target.
In the unfolding events, England consistently lost wickets, credit to Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan, who both secured three wickets each, causing disruptions for the defending champions. Mohammad Nabi also contributed with two wickets, playing a significant role in Afghanistan’s historic victory over the defending champions.
