Indian pace bowler Kranti Gaud has been docked 10 percent of her match fees for violating the ICC Code of Conduct during the Women’s T20 Asia Cup final held in Dubai on Sunday, September 13. In addition to the fine, she has received one demerit point, marking her first official breach within a 24-month timeframe.
The sanction stems from a Level 1 offense under Article 2.5, which prohibits the use of language, gestures, or actions that disparage an opponent or could incite an aggressive response upon a batter’s dismissal. The incident transpired during the opening over of the match when Gaud, after dismissing Imesha Dulani, gestured toward the pavilion in a celebratory but aggressive manner. Dulani had previously hit a boundary off the first ball of the over before Gaud claimed her wicket three deliveries later.
Gaud accepted the proposed sanctions from match referee Supriya Rani Das without the need for a formal hearing. The match concluded with Sri Lanka successfully chasing a target of 131 runs, reaching the total in 18.4 overs.
In a separate disciplinary development concerning the tournament, Pakistan were penalized five percent of their match fees due to a slow over-rate during their semi-final match against Sri Lanka. Following a charge leveled by fourth umpire Rabab Ahsan, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana admitted that the team was one over short of the required rate after accounting for time allowances. The report also notes that she was dismissed trying the same shot, with a pumped-up Gaud giving Dulani a send-off by gesturing towards the pavilion, three balls later.
