South Africa wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock has been fined 75% of his match fee after pleading guilty to his involvement in a shoulder-barging incident with Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal on the second day of the ongoing Chittagong Test.
The incident occurred at the stroke of lunch, after Tamim played out the last ball of the 30th over bowled by Simon Harmer. When he turned to head to the dressing room, Tamim got involved in a conversation with de Kock and there was some shoulder-barging before South Africa’s captain Hashim Amla intervened.
South Africa bowling coach Charl Langeveldt said he did not see the incident, while Mahmudullah declined to comment on the matter during the press conference after the day’s play.
“As the over before lunch came to an end, Quinton de Kock walked in front of the stumps to confront Tamim Iqbal,” match referee Chris Broad said. “In doing so de Kock deliberately brushed Tamim Iqbal’s shoulder and rib area. This resulted in a heated exchange between the two, initiated by the contact made by de Kock. This type of incident has no place on a cricket field.”
The ICC Code of Conduct’s Article 2.2.7 relates to, “inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with a player, player support personnel, umpire, match referee or any other Person (including a spectator) in the course of play during an International Match”. It also says, “without limitation, players will breach this regulation if they deliberately walk or run into or shoulder another player”.
Tamim was involved in a similar incident in the second ODI against South Africa. Rilee Rossouw, while walking to celebrate Tamim’s dismissal, shouldered the batsman in full view of the umpires. He was fined 50% of his match fee.
