Mohammad Nabi reprimanded for breach of ICC code of conduct

Afghanistan’s victory over Ireland in the fourth One-Day International (ODI), enabling them to take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the five-match series, has been sullied by a reprimand handed to Mohammad Nabi for a breach of ICC code of conduct, on Tuesday (July 17).

The charges on Nabi were levied by Alan Neill and Chettithody Shamshuddin, the on-field umpires, and Royl Black, third umpire, after the Afghanistan ex-skipper was found guilty of violating Level 1 Article 2.1.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel which relates to “conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game”

During Ireland’s chase of 230 on Sunday, Ed Joyce was dismissed in a controversial manner in the sixth over, after the batsman had dispatched the ball towards extra cover fence and stopped mid-way through, assuming the ball had crossed the boundary. Much to Joyce’s chagrin, Nabi, the fielder in the deep, retrieved the ball with a diving effort and threw it back to the non-striker’s end where Yamin Ahmedzai whipped off the bails.

The umpires asked Asghar Stanikzai, the Afghanistan captain, to backtrack his appeal but he refused, sending a miffed Joyce on his way back. Later on, photographic evidence revealed that Nabi was well past the boundary line while fielding the ball.

The early exit of a batsman in form made a telling impact on Ireland’s chase, as they folded for 150, 79 runs short of Afghanistan’s total. Barry Chambers, the Irish team’s media manager, had taken to twitter to vent out his anger at the turn of events. Nabi admitted to his offence and accepted ICC’s sanction.