DHAKA, May 20, (V7N)— Pakistan batter Salman Ali Agha has received an official reprimand for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the second Test against Bangladesh in Sylhet.
On Day 4 Tuesday, Agha struck an advertising board after being dismissed for 71 in the 82nd over of Pakistan’s second innings. Pakistan eventually lost the match by 78 runs and were swept 2-0 in the series by Bangladesh.
An ICC press release said Agha breached Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which covers “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match.”
Along with the reprimand, one demerit point was added to Agha’s disciplinary record. It was his second offence in a 24-month period, bringing his total to two demerit points. His previous offence was also a breach of Article 2.2 during an ODI against Bangladesh in Dhaka on March 13 this year, the ICC added.
Agha admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Jeff Crowe of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, so no formal hearing was needed.
On-field umpires Richard Kettleborough and Allahuddien Palekar, third umpire Kumar Dharmasena, and fourth umpire Masudur Rahman Mukul leveled the charge.
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto praised Liton Das for delivering the defining performance of the second Test against Pakistan, saying the wicketkeeper-batter’s first-innings century set up the historic series-clinching win in Sylhet.
Bangladesh secured a 78-run victory today to complete a 2-0 whitewash in the two-match series.
The five-day contest at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium tested both sides, but Bangladesh took control at key moments.
Shanto called Liton’s counterattacking 126 in the first innings the turning point. Bangladesh were reeling at 116-6 when Liton stepped in. Batting with the lower order, he added 162 crucial runs to lift the hosts to 278 and earn a 46-run first-innings lead.
Liton also made a fluent 69 in the second innings, adding a key stand with Mushfiqur Rahim, whose century pushed Pakistan out of the contest.
Beyond his batting, Liton drew praise for sharp keeping, clear communication with bowlers, and field adjustments from behind the stumps throughout the series.
Speaking after the match, Shanto called Liton’s knock one of the best of his career. “Liton played an outstanding innings, which I would call one of his best innings,” Shanto said. “Credit also goes to Taijul Bhai, Taskin, Shoriful and Nahid Rana for supporting him.”
Shanto said the dressing room kept belief despite the first-innings collapse. “The way Liton took charge in that situation proves Bangladesh are making a giant stride towards becoming a big team,” he said. “Everyone believed Taijul Bhai would support him and Liton would continue scoring.”
He added that Liton kept in constant touch from the middle about his approach. “There was very good communication. In this Test match, I would say the biggest achievement was Liton’s innings. Otherwise, we would have fallen far behind in the first innings,” he said.
The win gave Bangladesh their second consecutive Test series sweep over Pakistan after the away triumph in Rawalpindi in 2024 — a feat only Australia had previously achieved against Pakistan.
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