Two cricketers from South Africa A team charged with dissent

The on-going one-day series between South Africa A and National Performance Squad, two Proteas players were charged for breaching International Cricket Council’s Code of Conduct. The match was played on Wednesday, August 31st. The players were Qaasim Adams and Tabraiz Shamsi, who have been charged for separate incidents.

A game of cricket requires "gentlemanly" conduct from its players. The International Cricket Council has written and enforced several codes of conducts which have been violated by many cricketers in the history of the game. However, time and again, this line is breached owing to the passion and the heat of the moment.

Both the teammates were charged with a Level 1 breach of Article 2.1.5 of the ICC's code – levied if the cricket shows dissent at an umpire's decision in an international match. While Tabraiz Shamsi is now a household name in the country after playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Qaasim Adams’ name still remains relatively unheard.

During the match, the referee in both of the instances considered the written report of the umpire and offered a reprimand, accepted by the duo. The incident involving the left-arm bowler Shamsi, took place in the 36^th over when the NPS batsmen were at the crease. After having struck the skipper of the NPS Matt Short on the pad, the 26-year-old began a long appeal, going down on his knees, his back, and then into the ball on the turf, only metres away from Short.

However, as a response from Umpire Adrian Holdstock, Shamsi could manage only a shake of the head, followed by call of ‘over’. Adamant on his decision, the orthodox spinner regained his feet to walk towards the leg side. Once again, remonstrated with the umpire, but much to his disappointment, the appeal was rejected once more.

Adams' charge followed this incident after he was dismissed LBW for 44 runs during the tourists' effective run chase of 288. The first-class South African cricketer tried to sweep leg spinner, Kyle Gardiner. The Umpire Holdstock thus confirmed that Qaasim had been struck on the pad in line with stumps. Holdstock’s finger went up, vexing the batsman. Adam’s body language exhibited an unwavering and unruly behavior. He refused to walk off the ground until he realized he could not do anything about it.

The offences made by the player are categorized under 4 different levels. Penalties are also available for the violation of each conduct, as per the level under which it falls. Level 1, under which the duo was charged, has a fine of 0% to 50% of match fee as the penalty.