The ICC took action against Bangladesh pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib for initiating inappropriate physical contact with Nepal captain Rohit Paudel during their ICC T20 World 2024 Group D match at the Arnos Vale Ground in Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines on June 16. Sakib was found guilty of breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct and fined 15 percent of his match fees. Additionally, one demerit point was added to Sakib’s disciplinary record. It was his first offence.

If a player accumulates four or more demerit points in a 24-month span, those points are converted to suspension points, resulting in a ban. Specifically, two suspension points lead to a player being banned from one Test match, two ODIs, or two T20Is – whichever comes first. For Level 1 breaches, the penalties range from an official reprimand to a fine of up to 50% of the player’s match fees, along with one or two demerit points.

Tanzim was found to have violated Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which prohibits ‘inappropriate physical contact with players, support staff, umpires, match officials, or any other person, including spectators, during an international match.’

The incident occurred at the end of Nepal’s third over. After delivering a ball, Bangladesh’s Tanzim aggressively approached Nepal’s batter Rohit Paudel. The two exchanged words, with Tanzim repeatedly screaming “What happened?” as he charged towards Paudel. The verbal altercation then escalated into inappropriate physical contact, prompting the on-field umpires and teammates to intervene and separate the players.