Afghanistan opener reprimanded for Code of Conduct breach

Afghanistan's famous upset victory over England at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup has been soured with news that opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz has been reprimanded for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the match.

Gurbaz was found to have breached Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match.”

The incident occurred during the 19th over of Afghanistan's innings, when Gurbaz slammed his bat on the boundary rope and chair when leaving the field after being run out for 80.

Gurbaz admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Jeff Crowe of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, with one demerit point added to the opener's disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period.

When a player reaches four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they are converted into suspension points and a player is banned.

Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 percent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.

The victory over England was Afghanistan’s first at the World Cup, with their next match coming against unbeaten New Zealand in Chennai on Wednesday. (ICC)