Zimbabwe's Sean Williams penalised for breaching ICC Code of Conduct

Zimbabwean all-rounder Sean Williams has been reprimanded by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the second ODI against Pakistan.

Williams was charged with violating Article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which pertains to “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision during an international match.”

The incident occurred in the 26th over of Zimbabwe’s innings when Williams, after being declared lbw to Pakistan’s Saim Ayub, pointed to his bat in disagreement with the umpire’s decision.

As a consequence, Williams received a formal warning and one demerit point was added to his disciplinary record. This marks his first offence within the last 24 months.

The charge was filed by on-field umpires Michael Gough and Forster Mutizwa, third umpire Iknow Chabi, and fourth umpire Langton Rusere.

ICC Elite Panel Match Referee Andy Pycroft imposed the sanction, which Williams accepted, negating the need for a formal hearing.

Under ICC regulations, Level 1 violations can lead to penalties including a reprimand, a fine of up to 50% of the player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.

Williams’s conduct underscores the ICC’s commitment to maintaining discipline and fair play in international cricket.

Recently, in the second ODI, Pakistan delivered a dominant performance to secure a crushing 10-wicket victory over Zimbabwe.

Following a superb four-wicket haul by debutant Abrar Ahmed, Pakistan comfortably chased down Zimbabwe’s modest total of 146, doing so without losing a wicket and with 190 balls to spare.

Zimbabwe's innings had been restricted to just 145, thanks to Abrar’s impressive bowling figures of 4/33, as Pakistan's spinners dismantled the hosts' batting lineup.

In reply, Pakistan’s chase was led by a sensational knock from Saim Ayub, who scored his maiden ODI century in just 53 balls, making him the third-fastest centurion in Pakistan's ODI history, behind only Shahid Afridi.

Pakistan chased down target in just 26.2 overs, as the pair dominated the Zimbabwean bowlers throughout the chase.