DUBAI: Pakistan’s paceman Hasan Ali and Afghanistan’s Asghar Afghan and Rashid Khan have all been fined on Saturday for violating the players’ code of conduct, the International Cricket Council said Saturday.
Pakistan narrowly beat Afghanistan by three wickets in a highly charged Asia Cup Super Four match in Abu Dhabi on Friday, with Shoaib Malik hitting a six and four in the last over.
“Hasan, and Afghanistan’s duo of Asghar and Rashid have all been fined 15 percent of their match fees. They have also received one demerit point in separate incidents during the match on Friday,” the ICC said.
“After the match, all the three players pleaded guilty to the offenses and accepted the sanctions proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing.”
The ICC said: “Rashid was charged and fined for giving a sendoff to Asif Ali in the 47th over of Pakistan’s innings by holding up a finger and staring at the batsman, an action that could have provoked an aggressive reaction from the departing batsman.”
“Hasan and Asghar were found guilty of ‘conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game and using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batsman upon his/her dismissal during an International Match.’
“While Hasan and Rashid have received demerit points for the first time, it is the second occasion that Asghar has been handed a demerit point within a 24-month period.
“The incident involving Hasan happened in the 33rd over of Afghanistan’s innings when he threatened to throw the ball toward striker Hashmatullah Shahidi after fielding off his own bowling.
“As regards the incident involving Asghar, the Afghanistan captain brushed his shoulder with the bowler Hasan in the 37th over as he passed him while taking a run.”
Pakistan and Afghanistan players fined in Asia Cup — ICC
Pakistan and Afghanistan players fined in Asia Cup — ICC
- “Hasan, and Afghanistan’s duo of Asghar and Rashid have all been fined 15 percent of their match fees. They have also received one demerit point in separate incidents during the match on Friday,” the ICC said
- The ICC added: “Rashid was charged and fined for giving a sendoff to Asif Ali in the 47th over of Pakistan’s innings by holding up a finger and staring at the batsman, an action that could have provoked an aggressive reaction from the departing batsman”
Chelsea battle into League Cup semis to ease pressure on Maresca
- Maresca’s side took the lead thanks to Alejandro Garnacho’s strike early in the second half of the quarter-final in the Welsh capital
CARDIFF, United Kingdom: Chelsea provided support for unsettled boss Enzo Maresca as they survived a scare from third-tier Cardiff to reach the League Cup semifinals with a 3-1 win on Tuesday.
Maresca’s side took the lead thanks to Alejandro Garnacho’s strike early in the second half of the quarter-final in the Welsh capital.
Chelsea were pushed hard by the gritty League One leaders, who equalized through David Turnbull’s thumping header.
But the Blues delivered a welcome tonic for Maresca after his recent outburst, as Pedro Neto and Garnacho struck in the closing stages.
When Maresca faced the media on Monday, the Italian refused to clarify his explosive claim after Saturday’s 2-0 win over Everton that the previous 48 hours had been his worst at Stamford Bridge because he and his team lacked “support” from “many people.”
Maresca’s rant had fueled speculation he was criticizing the club’s co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali and sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley.
It has been suggested that Maresca was unhappy with the failure of Chelsea’s hierarchy to publicly support him amid criticism of his rotation policy during the team’s recent dip in form.
The victory over Cardiff was only their second in six games in all competitions.
Maresca, who led the Blues to Club World Cup and UEFA Conference League glory earlier this year, pointedly said he was focused on beating Cardiff to secure Chelsea’s “third semifinal in 18 months since I joined the club.”
Immediate impact
Chelsea, eight points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, are bidding to win the League Cup for the first time since 2015.
Prioritising Saturday’s Premier League trip to Newcastle, Maresca made 11 changes, with Cole Palmer rested and Moises Caicedo returning from suspension.
Callum Robinson had scored five goals in his three Premier League appearances against Chelsea, but the Cardiff striker wasted an early chance with a header that looped straight at Filip Jorgensen.
Jorgensen saved from Turnbull moments later as fired-up Cardiff fed off the febrile atmosphere from the sell-out 33,000 crowd.
Chelsea struggled to match Cardiff’s intensity and when they did create a chance from Caicedo’s pass to Marc Guiu, the forward’s drive was well saved by Nathan Trott.
Maresca’s men were creaking at the back and nearly fell behind as Isaak Davies’s cross deflected off Caicedo, forcing Jorgensen to make a superb stop.
Maresca’s worst 48 hours had been followed by one of his most forgettable 45 minutes, but he turned the tide by sending on Garnacho and Joao Pedro at the interval.
Garnacho made an immediate impact as he put Chelsea ahead in the 57th minute.
Dylan Lawlor’s woeful pass was intercepted by Facundo Buonanotte who raced into the Cardiff area before slipping a pass to Garnacho, who kept his composure for a clinical finish.
Chelsea lost their lead in the 75th minute. Perry Ng whipped his cross into the Chelsea area and Turnbull punished sloppy marking with a powerful header from 10 yards.
Chelsea responded emphatically in the 82nd minute when Neto took Joao Pedro’s pass and drilled a low deflected strike into the far corner.
Garnacho put the seal on Chelsea’s victory in stoppage-time, lifting a deft finish over Trott after surging into the area.
In Wednesday’s quarter-final action, Manchester City host Brentford and Newcastle face Fulham, while Arsenal meet Crystal Palace on December 23.
