Shafali Verma receives ICC reprimand and one demerit point
India opener Shafali Verma received an official reprimand and one demerit point from the ICC after breaching the Code of Conduct during the second T20I against Zimbabwe in Raipur.
India vice-captain Shafali Verma received an official reprimand and one demerit point from the ICC after breaching the Code of Conduct during the second T20I against Zimbabwe in Raipur on Sunday. The 22-year-old was found guilty of violating Article 2.2 for throwing the ball to the ground after dropping Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano at mid-off off Sree Charani's bowling in the 12th over. Verma accepted the sanction proposed by match referee G.S. Lakshmi, so no formal hearing was required. On-field umpires Vrinda Rathi and Gayathri Venugopalan, third umpire Anna Harris, and fourth umpire Janani Narayanan reported the incident. Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum fine of 50 per cent of a player's match fee. Verma scored 4 and 55 across the two matches so far. India lead the three-match series 2-0 under new captain Smriti Mandhana, with the final game scheduled for Tuesday.
CricHubb Take
The single demerit point is a minor blot on an otherwise clean record, but it sets a clear marker that even vice-captains are held to the same equipment-abuse standard as any other player.