Shafali Verma reprimanded for hitting ball on ground in second T20I against Zimbabwe

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has found Indian women’s cricketer Shafali Verma guilty of breaching the Code of Conduct in the second T20 International against Zimbabwe and formally reprimanded her. One demerit point has also been added to her disciplinary record.

According to the ICC, Shafali Verma was found to have breached Article 2.2 of the Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel. It relates to the abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an international match. It was a Level 1 breach. It is her first offence in a 24-month period.

The incident took place in the 12th over of the Zimbabwe innings in the match played in Raipur on Sunday 18 October. Shafali Verma dropped a catch from Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano at mid-off off the bowling of Shree Charani. She then slammed the ball into the ground in frustration.

Shafali Verma admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by G S Lakshmi of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees, so no formal hearing was needed. The charge was brought by on-field umpires Vrinda Rathi and Gayathri Venugopalan, third umpire Anna Harris and fourth umpire Janani Narayanan.

According to Telangana Today, the minimum penalty for a Level 1 breach is a reprimand. The maximum penalty can be a 50 per cent fine of the match fee and one or two demerit points.

India won the Raipur match by nine wickets. According to the ICC, Zimbabwe lost eight wickets for 102 runs, while India reached the target in about the ninth over and took a decisive lead in the series. Shafali Verma made a notable contribution with the bat, scoring 55 runs off just 25 balls. The first T20I between the two sides had been a close contest. The third T20I of the series is to be played in Raipur on 20 October.