Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan and reserve player Nurul Hasan have both been fined 25% of their match fees for separate incidents during the T20I against Sri Lanka in Colombo. Both players have also received one demerit point each for breaching Level 1 of the ICC code of conduct.
In the final over of a tense chase, Shakib gestured towards the Bangladesh batsmen Mahmudullah and Rubel Hossain to come off the field, from the edge of the boundary, while remonstrating against an umpiring decision. He was found to have indulged in "conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game".
Nurul was seen arguing with Sri Lanka captain Thisara Perera after he was sent by the team on to the field of play to pass on a message to the two batsmen. He was found guilty of violating Article 2.1.2, which deals with "conduct that brings the game into disrepute".
This was the first time either player had picked up a demerit point since the system came into effect on September 22, 2016. The BCB said in a release that it "regrets the unfortunate happenings" and that the conduct of the Bangladesh team "in certain instances was unacceptable on a cricket field".
"We understand that the events may have transpired due to the importance of the match and the pressure that comes with it but feel that the expected level of professionalism was not exhibited by the team while dealing with a tense situation in the game," the BCB release further said. "The Bangladesh Team members have been reminded of their responsibility in upholding the spirit of cricket at all times."
On Saturday morning, both Shakib and Nurul pleaded guilty to the offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by match referee Chris Broad and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing.
"Friday's incidents were disappointing as you don't want to see such player behavior during any level of cricket," Broad said in a statement. "I understand that it was a tense and an edge-of-the-seat match with place in the final on the line, but the actions of the two players were unacceptable and cannot be condoned as they clearly went overboard. Had the fourth umpire not stopped Shakib and the fielders remonstrating, and then the on-field umpires not intervened between Nurul and Thisara, things could have become worse."
The charges were levelled by on-field umpires Raveendra Wimalasiri and Ruchira Palliyaguruge, third umpire Ranmore Martinesz and fourth umpire Lyndon Hannibal.