Pakistan national cricket team batter Salman Ali Agha has been reprimanded and handed a demerit point for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct after reacting angrily to his dismissal in the second One-Day International between Pakistan and Bangladesh national cricket team at the Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Friday, March 13, 2026.
Match referee Neeyamur Rashid charged Agha with a Level 1 offence under Article 2.2 of the International Cricket Council Code of Conduct, which relates to the misuse or abuse of cricket equipment during an international match. The sanction came after Agha threw his gloves and helmet while leaving the field following his controversial run-out.
“The specific incident involved abusing cricket equipment on the ground while leaving the field,” said Neeyamur to the Daily Star Bangladesh. “Regarding Salman Agha, he has no previous history of such behaviour. We have to maintain neutrality when we judge. Consequently, we have issued a reprimand and a demerit point,” said Neeyamur to the Daily Star Bangladesh.”
The referee also said no disciplinary action would be taken over the brief on-field exchange between Agha and Bangladesh players, describing it as a misunderstanding. Rashid added that the matter had been discussed with the ICC before the decision was finalised.
The incident occurred in the 39th over of Pakistan’s innings while Agha and Mohammad Rizwan were building a partnership. Rizwan pushed a delivery from Mehidy Hasan Miraz back toward the bowler, who attempted to stop the ball in his follow-through and collided with Agha at the non-striker’s end.
With Agha momentarily outside his crease, Miraz quickly collected the ball and underarmed a throw to break the stumps. The decision was referred to the television umpire by on-field umpire Tanvir Ahmed, who confirmed the run-out after reviewing the footage.
Agha, who scored 64 from 62 balls, reacted angrily to the dismissal and exchanged words with Miraz before leaving the field, with Litton Das briefly joining the discussion before Rizwan intervened to calm the situation.
The run-out incident sparked debate among players and fans about the spirit of cricket. Miraz defended his decision after the match, saying the dismissal was within the laws of the game and taken as a tactical opportunity. Agha, meanwhile, said he accepted the decision under the rules but suggested he would have acted differently to uphold the spirit of the game.
Notably, when Miraz grabbed the ball to run Agha out, the Pakistan batter was attempting to pick it up. Had he succeeded in doing so, he could potentially have been dismissed for obstructing the field under the Laws of Cricket.