Incident deemed a Level One offence under ICC rules on dissent

The International Cricket Council has fined Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam for violating the ICC Code of Conduct during a recent match against Sri Lanka. The ICC announced that Babar was fined ten percent of his match fee and given one demerit point for his actions.

The punishment stems from an incident in which Babar, frustrated after being dismissed, struck the stumps with his bat. Match officials classified the act as a Level One offence under the Code of Conduct, covering actions that show dissent or cause damage to the playing area or equipment.

According to the ICC, Babar Azam accepted the charge and the penalty proposed by the match referee. As a result, no formal hearing was required.

The incident comes shortly after a round of penalties announced following Asia Cup hearings. Among those punished were Pakistan’s fast bowler Haris Rauf, batter Sahibzada Farhan and India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav.

Haris Rauf received a two-match suspension, a thirty percent match fee deduction and two demerit points. The ICC noted that Rauf accumulated four demerit points within a twenty-four month period, which automatically converted into two suspension points that triggered his ban.

Analysts say such incidents highlight the growing pressure on players in high-stakes international cricket. Match officials and boards have repeatedly stressed the need for emotional control and discipline on the field. Experts suggest that national teams and cricket authorities could implement stricter mentoring, mental conditioning programs and pre-match briefings to prevent future violations and ensure players maintain professionalism during intense moments.