The International Cricket Council (ICC) has come under scrutiny after its media release incorrectly described an incident involving Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman in the Tri-Series final against Sri Lanka on November 29.
The ICC stated that Zaman breached the Code of Conduct by showing dissent after losing his wicket, but multiple match reports and footage confirm that the player’s actions occurred while fielding during Sri Lanka’s innings, not during his own dismissal.
But What Really Happened? Fakhar Zaman Catch Controversy
In the 19th over of Sri Lanka’s innings, Zaman caught Shanaka off Shaheen Shah Afridi’s delivery. The third umpire ruled the catch not out, claiming the ball had touched the ground.
On the very next ball, Shaheen clean bowled Shanaka, and both Zaman and Shaheen appealed and gestured toward the umpires, questioning the previous call. It was this moment that seemed to lead to the ICC sanction.
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Despite the error, the ICC confirmed that Zaman would be fined 10 percent of his match fee and receive one demerit point under Level 1 of the Code of Conduct. Zaman accepted the sanction, eliminating the need for a formal hearing.
Critics argue the ICC’s inaccurate reporting misleads the public and unfairly frames a player’s conduct, portraying Zaman as having misbehaved during his own dismissal rather than during a legitimate fielding appeal.
Sports analysts and fans have called for the ICC to issue a corrected statement to clarify the actual sequence of events.
