Two days after the high-voltage India-Pakistan Asia Cup clash in Dubai, the ICC punished Fatima Sana for the send-off she gave to India batter Shafali Verma.
The Pakistan captain gave an animated send-off to the India opener for 12 runs. She has been fined 10 percent of her match fee. The ICC has also added a demerit point to her disciplinary record. “Fatima was found to have breached article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon dismissal,” the ICC said in a statement.
“In addition, one demerit point has been added to her disciplinary record, for whom it was the second offence in a 24-month period, taking her tally of demerit points in this period to two,” the board added.
India continued their undefeated run in the Asia Cup and defeated Pakistan by seven wickets to qualify for the semi-final of the tournament. Asked to bowl first, India bowled out Pakistan for a mere total of 55.
Shree Charani and Prema Rawat shone with the ball and took three wickets each. Deepti Sharma also did her and she scalped two wickets. None of the Pakistani batters could breach the 20-run mark.
India lost three early wickets
made a forgettable start in the chase and lost three early wickets. Sana, who dismissed Shafali, removed Pratika Rawal on the last ball of her first over. She also dismissed Smriti Mandhana in her second over. Sana’s heroics weren’t enough as Pakistan only managed a score of 55 on the board.
Pakistan are the favourites to become the second team from Group A to qualify for the semi-final. With three wins in as many matches, Sri Lanka have already qualified from Group B. Bangladesh and UAE are vying for the second spot. India will play the first semi-final on Thursday (September 10).