Bulawayo Bulawayo: After the second ODI of the three-match series against Pakistan, Zimbabwe left-handed batsman Sean Williams was found guilty of breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel. The breach relates to Article 2.8, which deals with “expressing disagreement with an umpire's decision during an international match”. The incident occurred in the 26th over of Zimbabwe's innings, when Williams pointed towards his bat in protest after Sam Ayub was given out LBW. Williams scored 31 runs in Zimbabwe's 145 runs in the first innings. The hosts ultimately lost the match as Pakistan achieved the target with all 10 wickets remaining, leveling the three-match series at 1–1.
In addition to the reprimand, one demerit point was added to Williams' disciplinary record, his first offense in a 24-month period. On-field umpires Michael Gough and Forster Mutizwa, third umpire Ikono Chabi and fourth umpire Langton Rusere filed the charges. Williams pleaded guilty and accepted the penalty proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, eliminating the need for a formal hearing. The minimum penalty for a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct is an official reprimand and the maximum penalty is a 50% match fee deduction plus one or two demerit points. Zimbabwe stunned Pakistan in the opening ODI with an 80-run win via the DLS method. However, Pakistan responded strongly in the second match on Tuesday.
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