NEW DELHI: Pakistan batter Salman Agha has received an official reprimand from the ICC after an outburst during the second Test against Bangladesh in Sylhet. The incident took place after he was dismissed in Pakistan’s second innings, when he struck an advertising board with his bat while walking back to the pavilion.
The ICC ruled that Agha breached Article 2.2 of its Code of Conduct, which covers conduct involving damage to cricket equipment or abuse of match-related ground fixtures during an international match. As part of the sanction, he was handed one demerit point alongside the reprimand.
It was not the first time Agha has drawn a disciplinary mark recently. The reprimand marked his second offence within the previous 24 months, bringing his overall demerit tally to two points.
Quick facts
- ICC reprimand issued to Pakistan batter Salman Agha after temper flare in Sylhet
- Incident occurred after dismissal in Pakistan’s second innings; advertising board hit with bat
- Charge related to Article 2.2 (damage or abuse of cricket equipment/ground fixtures)
- One demerit point added to his record; total now stands at two after two offences in 24 months
- Salman accepted the punishment proposed by match referee Jeff Crowe; no formal hearing required
- Deemed Level 1 ICC breach, which can result in warning, fines, or demerit points based on severity
- Pakistan lost the second Test by 78 runs; series finished 2-0 for Bangladesh
Agha accepted the sanction put forward by ICC match referee Jeff Crowe, which meant there was no need to stage a formal hearing. The matter was raised by the on-field officials, with Richard Kettleborough and Allahuddien Palekar reporting the incident, and the review supported by third umpire Kumar Dharmasena and fourth umpire Masudur Rahman Mukul.
Impact on the Test and series
The reprimand landed against a backdrop of a tough outing for Pakistan. They were beaten by 78 runs in the second Test, and Bangladesh sealed a landmark 2-0 series win.
Bangladesh’s defence of 437 was spearheaded by spinner Taijul Islam, who delivered a six-wicket haul to swing the match decisively in his team’s favour. The result also confirmed a clean sweep of the series for Bangladesh.
Even with the defeat, Agha still stood out for Pakistan in the second innings. He made 71 runs and formed a key partnership with Mohammad Rizwan as Pakistan pushed to keep the contest alive and salvage the match.
With the loss, Pakistan slipped to eighth place in the World Test Championship standings. They have managed just one win from four matches in the ongoing cycle, adding pressure as the tournament reaches its crucial phases.
