Hashmatullah Shahidi Punished By ICC After Repeated Warnings

Hasmatullah Shahidi [Source: AFP]Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi has been punished by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for breaking the Code of Conduct during the third ODI against India. Notably, the match was played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on June 20 as part of Afghanistan's tour of India 2026.Although Shahidi played a brilliant innings and scored his first-ever ODI century, he landed in trouble because of his actions on the field. As a result, the ICC took disciplinary action against him.Why Did The ICC Punish Hashmatullah Shahidi?It is important to note that the ICC found Hashmatullah Shahidi guilty of a Level 1 breach of its Code of Conduct. Specifically, he violated Article 2.10.10, which relates to a batter causing deliberate or avoidable damage to the pitch.During the IND vs AFG 3rd ODI, Shahidi repeatedly ran through the protected area of the pitch while taking runs. This area is important because it helps maintain fair playing conditions for both teams. Therefore, players are expected to avoid stepping on it unnecessarily.Initially, match officials gave Hashmatullah Shahidi two unofficial warnings. However, despite those warnings, he continued to run on the protected area. Consequently, he received an official warning in the 31st over of Afghanistan's innings.Also Read: Rohit Sharma Acts To Prank Rashid Khan Into Burning Afghanistan DRSEven after the official warning, Shahidi failed to correct his actions. Later, in the 40th over, he again ran on the protected area of the pitch.As a result, the umpires imposed a five-run penalty on Afghanistan, and those runs were awarded to India. Because Shahidi ignored multiple warnings, the ICC decided to charge him with a breach of the Code of Conduct.Hashmatullah Shahidi Accepts ICC’s PunishmentIt is important to note that, following the incident, Shahidi admitted his mistake and accepted the punishment proposed by ICC Elite Panel Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle.Since he accepted responsibility for his actions, there was no need for a formal hearing. The charge was filed by on-field umpires Chris Gaffaney and Rohan Pandit, along with third umpire Richard Illingworth and fourth umpire Virender Sharma.In addition, one demerit point has been added to Shahidi's disciplinary record. This is his first offence in the last 24 months.What Does A Level 1 Offence Mean?According to ICC regulations, a Level 1 offence is the least serious category of disciplinary breaches. Nevertheless, it can still result in penalties.“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,” the ICC stated in an official release.Hashmatullah Shahidi’s Century Goes In Vain As India Complete 3-0 SweepDespite the controversy, the AFG captain produced an outstanding batting performance. The left-handed batter scored 102 runs off 131 balls. Interestingly, this was his maiden ODI century.However, his century was not enough to help Afghanistan win the IND vs AFG 3rd ODI. India comfortably chased down the target and secured a massive nine-wicket victory.Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a century for India, while captain Rohit Sharma contributed 79 runs. As a result, India completed a clean 3-0 series sweep against Afghanistan.Also Read: India's Semifinal Qualification Scenario In Women's T20 World Cup 2026 After Defeat Vs SA