Pakistan captain Fatima Sana fined over Shafali Verma gesture in Asia Cup — SkimNews
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- Fatima Sana was fined 10% of her match fee by the ICC after gesturing toward the pavilion following a caught-and-bowled dismissal of India's Shafali Verma in the Asia Cup T20 group match, two days after India's record win over Pakistan.
- Shafali Verma scored 12 runs off six balls before being dismissed as India won by seven wickets to remain unbeaten in the tournament.
- The offence breached Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which covers language, actions, or gestures that disparage or could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon dismissal.
- Sana received one demerit point for her second ICC offence in 24 months, after a prior violation during a T20I against Ireland in August 2025; Level 1 breaches carry a maximum 50% match fee fine.
- India have advanced to the semifinals with six points from three matches, while Pakistan face Hong Kong on Monday needing a win to stay alive.
- Pakistan have never won the women's Asia Cup, finishing runners-up to neighbours India in 2012 and 2016.
Why it matters: Sana's fine adds a second demerit point within 24 months, meaning further sanctions will compound faster under the ICC's escalating penalty structure. The disciplinary moment also deepens a bruising stretch for Pakistan, who lost to India by a record margin and now face a must-win game against Hong Kong in a tournament they have never won.
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