Pakistan women’s cricket team captain Fatima Sana has been fined 10 per cent of her match fee for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during a Group A match against India in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026, held in Dubai on September 7.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed that Fatima violated Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which states that “using language, actions or gestures which disparage, or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his/her dismissal during an International Match” is a breach.
Fatima received one demerit point for this offence. It was her second offence within 24 months, bringing her total demerit points to two. Her previous demerit point was issued during the first match of a T20I series against Ireland in Dublin on August 6, 2025.
The incident occurred in the second over of India’s innings when Fatima, having dismissed opener Shafali Verma, made a gesture towards the pavilion.
Fatima admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Supriya Rani Das of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees, thus avoiding a formal hearing. The charge was brought by on-field umpires Nimali Perera and Shathira Jakir Jesy, third umpire Rokeya Sultana, and fourth umpire Rabab Ahsan.
Level 1 breaches carry penalties ranging from an official reprimand to a fine of up to 50 per cent of the player’s match fee and the allocation of one or two demerit points. When a player accumulates four or more demerit points within 24 months, these are converted into suspension points. Two suspension points result in a ban from one Test match or two One Day Internationals or two Twenty20 Internationals, whichever occurs first.
Demerit points remain on a player’s disciplinary record for 24 months from the date they are imposed, after which they are removed.