T20 World Cup 2026: ICC fines Mohammad Nabi for disobeying on-field umpire’s instructions during AFG vs SA

The International Cricket Council has fined Afghanistan player Mohammad Nabi 15 per cent of his match fee for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group D match against South Africa in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.

Nabi was found to have breached Article 2.4 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “Disobeying an Umpire’s instruction during an International Match.” The incident occurred at the start of the 14th over of Afghanistan’s innings, when Nabi engaged in a prolonged argument with the umpires over bowler Lungi Ngidi’s wristband.

Nabi admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by David Gilbert of the ICC International Panel of Match Referees, so there was no need for a formal hearing. On-field umpires Jayaraman Madanagopal and Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, third umpire Nitin Menon and fourth umpire K.N. Ananthapadmanabhan levelled the charge.

In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to Nabi’s disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period. If Nabi reaches four or more demerit points in the coming twenty-four months, the points shall be converted into suspension points, following which he has the risk of getting banned from one Test or two ODIs or two T20I, whatever comes first.

For those who may not know, Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.

Meanwhile, Ngidi was the Player of the Match in a humdinger of a contest where the fate of the match was decided after a couple of Super Overs. Afghanistan tried their level best, but in the end, the Proteas reigned supreme at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.

“Lost so much weight today. Never been this stressed in my life in a cricket game. Happy to come out on top. Knew I’d probably be the super over option, captain said keep doing the same. Let myself down in the first over, didn’t go to plan. Clear from Quintin, David and Stubbs that balls into the wicket was working,” Ngidi said at the post-match presentation party.

(Inputs from ICC)