Haris Rauf has been suspended from Pakistan's first two ODI's against South Africa this week, and several players have been sanctioned by the ICC after the conclusions of disciplinary hearings into incidents which took place during the Asia Cup.
The hearings were conducted by members of the ICC elite panel of match referees, and concerned incidents which took place during matches between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup earlier this year. Tensions were high during the matches, which took place in the backdrop of the armed conflict between the two countries earlier this year. Both captains did not shake hands before the group stage match, in an incident which became 'handshake-gate' with Pakistan's following match against UAE delayed by an hour amid uncertainty over their future participation in the tournament.
What were the charges against individual players?
The ICC heard charges relating to five players across the three matches India and Pakistan played against each other during the tournament.
From the group stage game on September 14, Suryakumar Yadav was found guilty of breaching Article 2.21 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which relates to conduct which brings the game into disrepute, and was fined 30 per cent of his match fee and handed two demerit points. Sahibzada Farhan was also found guilty of breaching Article 2.21 and was issued with an official warning and given one demerit point. Haris Rauf was found guilty of the same offence and fined 30 per cent of his match fee and given two demerit points.
Arshdeep Singh was investigate for an incident during the Super Fours game on September 21, however he was found no guilty of breaching Article 2.6. That article refers to 'using a gesture which is obscene, offensive or insulting'.
After the final, Jasprit Bumrah accepted a charge for breaching Article 2.21 and was given an official warning and one demerit point. Rauf was investigated for a further incident in the final, and was again found guilty of breaching Article 2.21. He was fined 30 per cent of his match fee and received two more demerit points.
Why was Haris Rauf banned following the hearings?
After being found guilty of two offences, Rauf has been banned for Pakistan's first two ODIs against South Africa on November 4 and 6. Rauf was issued a total of four demerit points from the incidents during the Asia Cup, meaning he reached the threshold for demerit points allowed on a player's record in a 24 month period. The demerit points were thus converted into two suspension points, which were converted into a ban.
Two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test match, or two ODIs, or two T20Is, whichever comes first for the player. Pakistan played their first ODI against South Africa today (November 4), which Rauf did not take part in as per the ban. He will also be unavailable for the second game.
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