Salman Agha reprimanded by ICC following controversial run-out against Bangladesh

Pakistan batter Salman Ali Agha has been reprimanded for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the second ODI against Bangladesh on Friday, March 13 at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka.

Agha was found guilty of breaching 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.”

Additionally, one demerit point has been added to Agha’s disciplinary record, who committed his first offence in a 24-month period. Agha threw his helmet and gloves in frustration following his controversial run out by  Mehidy Hasan Miraz during the first innings of the match.

No formal hearing was required as Agha admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Neeyamur Rashid Rahul of the ICC International Panel of Match Referees.

On-field umpires Adrian Holdstock and Tanvir Ahmed, third umpire Kumar Dharmasena and fourth umpire Masudur Rahman Mukul levelled the charge.

As per the ICC laws, 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.

How was Salman Agha dismissed?

Meanwhile, Agha's run out became the talking point of the match after Mehidy Hasan Miraz's sneaky work at the non-striker’s end resulted in his run out. The Pakistan batter was trying to pick up the ball and hand it over to the Bangladesh captain after it was hit straight at him by Mohammad Rizwan.

However, Mehidy reached for the ball before Agha and hit the stumps, with the Pakistan batter still out of his crease. As a result, the on-field umpire referred the decision to the third umpire, and Agha was eventually judged out.

The decision expectedly didn’t go down well with the Pakistan batter, who seemed visibly angry at the entire turn of events and threw his helmet and gloves in frustration, while walking back towards the pavilion. He also got involved in a verbal duel with Mehidy and Litton Das following his dismissal.

While the fixture was marred by the run-out controversy, Pakistan registered a commanding 128-run victory to level the series 1-1. Maaz Sadaqat was adjudged Player of the Match for his brilliant all-round performance, as he first scored a blistering 46-ball 75 and later scalped 3/23 with the ball in five overs.