Pakistan batter Babar Azam has been fined by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after an unusual moment during the third ODI against Sri Lanka. He was found guilty of violating Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which relates to the abuse of cricket equipment, the playing surface, clothing, or any property associated with the match. The incident took place in the 21st over of Pakistan’s innings and resulted in both a monetary penalty and a demerit point added to his disciplinary record.
Babar, who was batting confidently on 34, was bowled by leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay. The ball clipped the off stump, ending his innings. In a brief display of frustration, Babar struck the stumps with his bat as he turned to walk off the field. Although the action lasted barely a second, it was enough to draw the attention of officials monitoring conduct on the field.
The sequence was soon reported by on-field umpires Alex Wharf and Rashid Riaz. Third umpire Sharfuddoula and fourth umpire Faisal Afridi also backed the report, ensuring that the incident was formally documented. Their observations were then forwarded to the match referee for review.
Match referee Ali Naqvi examined the footage and confirmed that Babar’s action warranted a penalty under the Code of Conduct. He issued a 10 percent fine on Babar’s match fee and added one demerit point to his disciplinary record. Notably, this marks Babar’s first offence in a span of 24 months, keeping him well within the safe limit.
🚨Here's the clip of Babar Azam hitting the stumps after his dismissal in the 3rd ODI vs Sri Lanka.
— INAYAT (@Inayattttt_56) November 20, 2025
– ICC fined 10% of his match fee for this. pic.twitter.com/exCvpGWBP8
The ICC emphasized that even minor acts of frustration involving equipment misuse fall under the purview of Article 2.2. While such incidents are not uncommon in high-pressure games, governing bodies treat them seriously to maintain discipline and uphold the spirit of cricket.
Since Babar acknowledged the error and accepted the sanctions without objection, the ICC decided that no formal hearing was required. The matter was settled swiftly, allowing the focus to return to the cricket rather than the controversy.