Zimbabwe penalized by ICC for excessive slow rate against Afghanistan in 3rd T20I

Zimbabwe have been penalized for their slow top-order in the third T20I of the recently concluded series against Afghanistan. Their players were fined 10 percent of their match fees.

Team captain Sikandar Raza has accepted the sanctions imposed by match referee Andy Pycroft, who is also on the ICC Elite Panel. It was a big shock for the team after suffering a narrow defeat against Afghanistan.

Zimbabwe was fined for excessive infringement

Zimbabwe's players have been handed a penalty for slow overs during their T20I series decider against Afghanistan.#ZIMvAFG https://t.co/bniDQK1pnO

– ICC (@ICC) December 16, 2024

The allegations were made by match winners Iknow Chabi, Forster Mutizwa, third umpire Percival Sizara, and fourth umpire Langton Rusere. Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza did not question the break and accepted it.

The charges were imposed in accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Supporters of Players, which applies to minimum level offences, players are fined five per cent of their match fees for each side of their team that does not bowl in the allotted time.

Afghanistan won a thriller to win the series

The three-match T20I series did not end on a good note for Sikandar Raza and his team. Zimbabwe won the first T20I but Afghanistan came back strongly to win the last two T20Is of the series. As a result, the visitors won the series 2-1.

The final T20I went down to the wire as it was a low-scoring thriller. The home team batted first after being put into bat first by Afghanistan. The visitors continued to lose wickets regularly but Brian Bennett stayed at one end.

Bennett scored a useful 31 off 24 balls but was dismissed after the power play. Sikandar Raza walked in at No. 5 but was dismissed for trying to play too aggressively. None of the lower-order batsmen could make a significant contribution as the home side were bundled out for just 127 in 19.5 overs.

Zimbabwe bowlers shine but Afghanistan win

It seemed that Afghanistan would not have many problems in reaching the target. However, they were reduced to 7-2 by opening bowlers Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani. The star of the last match Darwish Rasooli was dismissed freely this time too and was followed by Rahamanullah Gurbaz.

At 44-4, Afghanistan were in trouble but Azmataullah Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib steadied the ship. Naib was dismissed for 22 but Mohammad Nabi showed his experience to take Afghanistan over the finish line despite the late wickets of Omarzai and Rashid Khan.

Nabi hit the winning runs and finished unbeaten on 24 off 18 balls. Zimbabwe's bowlers did well but there was not enough score on the board to trouble the visitors. Blessing Muzarabani, Trevor Gwandu, and Sikandar Raza took two wickets each for the home side.

The two teams will now play a three-match ODI series, which starts on December 17, and a two-match Test series, which is scheduled to start on December 26.

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