Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza has received a two-match ban and will miss the remaining T20 international fixtures against Ireland following a code of conduct breach during the first match.

Raza was fined 50% of his match fee and received two demerit points for aggressively charging towards Irish players Curtis Campher and Josh Little, pointing his bat and breaking away from the umpire attempting to intervene. This incident, coupled with previous infractions, pushed his demerit point total above the threshold, resulting in the ban. Sean Williams will step in as captain for the remaining two matches, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

Campher and Little also faced consequences for their roles in the incident. Campher, who charged towards Raza while sidestepping an umpire, and Little, who made physical contact with the captain, were both fined 15% of their match fees and received one demerit point each. This marks their first demerit points within the 24-month period.

Summary of Sanctions

Sikandar Raza: 2-match ban, 50% match fee fine, 2 demerit points
Curtis Campher: 15% match fee fine, 1 demerit point
Josh Little: 15% match fee fine, 1 demerit point

Raza’s absence will be a significant blow to Zimbabwe as they look to secure victory in the T20I series against Ireland. Williams will need to rally the team and utilize his leadership skills to overcome this challenge.

This incident highlights the importance of maintaining sportsmanship and adhering to the code of conduct, even in heated moments during competitive matches. (Source Zim Cricket media)