Afridi Booked for Tampering Charge under ICC Code of Conduct

Having already been slapped two T20 International ban for ball tampering in the final ODI against Australia, Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi has been booked under article 2.2.9 of ICC Code of Conduct, with the match referee imposing on him the maximum penalty for his offence, reported PTI.

Afridi, heading the visiting team in place of regular skipper Mohammad Yousuf, will not be able to play in Pakistan’s next two T20 Internationals against the same opponents on February 5 in Melbourne and against England in Dubai on February 19, said report.

“Shahid was charged with an article 2.2.9 offence of the ICC Code of Conduct which relates to ‘changing the condition of the ball in breach of Law 42.3 of the Laws of Cricket’. He has received two suspension points after breaching the Code. Two suspension points in the code means a ban of a Test, two ODIs or two T20Is,” ICC was quoted as saying in a statement.

The charge against Afridi was labeled by on-field umpires Asoka de Silva of ICC Elite Panel of Umpires and Paul Reiffel of International Panel, third umpire Rod Tucker and fourth umpire Mick Martell.

The charge was laid because Afridi was observed in the act of changing the condition of the ball during Australia’s innings without the permission of the on-field umpires.

ICC Elite Panel Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle was quoted a saying, “I imposed maximum penalty under the code and reminded Shahid of his responsibilities as a national captain which is to ensure the match is played according to laws of the game and in the spirit it is intended to be played. Shahid, when pleading guilty, apologised and regretted his actions.”