India fast bowler Arshdeep Singh was fined 15 per cent of his match fee for violating Level 1 of the International Cricket Council’s Code of Conduct during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final against the New Zealand national cricket team in Ahmedabad on Sunday.Arshdeep was found guilty of breaching Article 2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “throwing a ball (or any other item of cricket equipment) towards or near a player in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner during an International Match”.
In addition to the fine, a demerit point was added to Arshdeep’s disciplinary record. It is his first offense in a 24-month period.
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The incident took place in New Zealand’s 11th innings when Arshdeep fielded the ball in his follow-through and bowled it backwards aggressively, hitting batsman Daryl Mitchell on the pads.Arshdeep accepted the sanction proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, meaning there was no need for a formal hearing.The charge was leveled by field umpires Richard Illingworth and Alex Wharf, third umpire Allahuddien Paleker and fourth umpire Adrian Holdstock.Level 1 offenses carry a minimum penalty of an official caution and a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of the player’s match fee, along with one or two demerit points.HOW MERIT POINTS WORKWhen a player accumulates four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they are converted to suspension points, which can result in a ban.Two suspension points are equivalent to a ban from one Test, two ODIs or two T20Is, whichever comes first for the player.Demerit points remain on a player’s or player support staff’s disciplinary record for 24 months from the date they are imposed, after which they are removed.
