Zimbabwe have been hit with a penalty for their slow over-rate in the third T20I of the recently concluded series against Afghanistan. Their players have been fined 10 percent of their match fees.
The team’s captain Sikandar Raza has accepted the sanctions that were applied by the Match Referee Andy Pycroft, who is also in ICC’s Elite Panel. It was a big shock for the team after they suffered a narrow defeat to Afghanistan.
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Zimbabwe fined for over-rate violation
Zimbabwe players have copped a penalty owing to slow over-rate during their T20I series decider against Afghanistan.#ZIMvAFGhttps://t.co/bniDQK1pnO
— ICC (@ICC) December 16, 2024
The charges were applied by the on-field umpires of the match Iknow Chabi, Forster Mutizwa, third umpire Percival Sizara, and fourth umpire Langton Rusere. Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza didn’t question the violation and accepted it.
The charges were applied in accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined five percent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.
Afghanistan clinched a thriller to win the series
The three-match T20I series didn’t end on a great note for Sikandar Raza and his team. Zimbabwe won the first T20I but Afghanistan came back strongly to win the last two T20Is of the series. As a result, the visitors clinched the series 2-1.
The last T20I went down to the wire as it was a low-scoring thriller. The home side batted first after being put in to bat first by Afghanistan. The hosts kept on losing wickets regularly but Brian Bennett stayed at one end.
Bennett scored a useful 31 off 24 balls but was dismissed after the powerplay. Sikandar Raza walked in at No. 5 but was dismissed in an attempt to play too aggressively. None of the lower-order batters could make a significant contribution as the home side was bundled out for just 127 in 19.5 overs.
Zimbabwe’s bowlers shine but Afghanistan prevail
It seemed like Afghanistan wouldn’t face many problems in reaching the target. However, they were reduced to 7-2 by the opening bowlers Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani. The star of the last game Darwish Rasooli too was dismissed cheaply this time and Rahamanullah Gurbaz followed him.
At 44-4, Afghanistan were in trouble but Azmataullah Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib steadied the ship. Naib was dismissed for 22 but Mohammad Nabi showed his experience to take Afghanistan past the finish line despite the late wickets of Omarzai and Rashid Khan.
Nabi hit the winning runs and finished unbeaten on 24 off 18 balls. Zimbabwe bowlers bowled well but there was not enough score on the board to trouble the visitors. Blessing Muzarabani, Trevor Gwandu, and Sikandar Raza picked up two wickets each for the home team.
The two teams will now play a three-match ODI series, which will begin on December 17, and a two-match Test series, which is scheduled to start on December 26.