Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf has been fined 20 per cent of his match fee and received a demerit point for his on-field behaviour during Sunday’s ODI against England in Lahore. The visitors were also penalised after failing to maintain the required over-rate.The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed that Rauf breached Article 2.2 of its Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which covers conduct contrary to the spirit of the game. He received an official reprimand, taking his tally to five demerit points following his third offence within a 24-month period.The incident occurred towards the end of Pakistan’s innings, after the 46th over, when Rauf was at the non-striker’s end. The pacer appealed for a wide before getting into an argument with England all-rounder Will Jacks.Rauf raised his bat during the exchange and continued the argument despite being warned by umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid. He then brushed past the umpire while moving towards Jacks.England were handed a separate penalty, with their players fined 15 per cent of their match fees for maintaining an over-rate three overs below the required level, even after time allowances were taken into account.The sanction was imposed under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which provides for a five per cent fine on players’ match fees for every over a team falls short of the minimum over-rate requirement.Both Rauf and England captain Harry Brook accepted the charges and the penalties proposed by Jeff Crowe of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees. As a result, neither case required a formal hearing.The charges against the two teams were brought by on-field umpires Rashid Riaz and Sharfuddoula, third umpire Wayne Knights and fourth umpire Nassir Hussain.The disciplinary action followed a dramatic contest in which Pakistan secured a one-wicket victory while chasing England’s total. Shadab Khan played a decisive role with an unbeaten century to keep Pakistan in the hunt during the closing stages.Shadab and Rauf then stitched together an unbroken 89-run partnership for the final wicket to take Pakistan over the line with 17 balls remaining.The victory also booked Pakistan’s place in the ODI tri-series final, where they are scheduled to face Sri Lanka on October 31.
