ICC Punishes Pakistan’s Fatima Sana Over Inappropriate Gesture Vs India
Pakistan captain Fatima Sana has been fined 10% of her match fee and handed one demerit point for an inappropriate send-off gesture towards Shafali Verma during the Women's Asia Cu...
Pakistan captain Fatima Sana has been punished by the International Cricket Council (ICC) following her inappropriate send-off gesture towards India's Shafali Verma during the Women's Asia Cup 2026 clash in Dubai.
Sana was fined 10 per cent of her match fee and received one demerit point after being found guilty of breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct.
Fatima Sana Punished Over Shafali Verma Gesture
The incident took place during Pakistan's heavy defeat against India. After dismissing Shafali Verma, Sana made a gesture towards the Indian batter that was considered inappropriate and capable of provoking a reaction.
The offence falls under Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel. The provision covers language, actions or gestures that disparage or could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter following their dismissal.
Sana Admits Offence
Fatima Sana accepted the charge and the proposed sanction, meaning there was no need for a formal hearing.
The Pakistan captain was therefore handed a 10 per cent fine of her match fee along with one demerit point.
The punishment comes shortly after another tense India-Pakistan encounter at the Women's Asia Cup. The match had already attracted attention before the first ball after India captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Sana did not exchange the customary handshake at the toss.
India Beat Pakistan By Seven Wickets
The disciplinary incident came during a one-sided contest in Dubai.
Pakistan were bowled out for just 55 after India's bowlers dismantled their batting line-up. India then chased down the target in only 8.4 overs, winning the match by seven wickets.
Sana was one of Pakistan's better performers with the ball, taking three Indian wickets, but her effort could not prevent Pakistan from suffering a comprehensive defeat.
The result further strengthened India's dominance over Pakistan in women's T20I cricket and kept Harmanpreet Kaur's side in a strong position in the Women's Asia Cup.
Demerit Point Adds To Fatima Sana's Disciplinary Record
The latest punishment is also significant because Sana has already faced disciplinary action during the last two years.
The additional demerit point means the Pakistan captain will need to be particularly careful about her conduct in upcoming international matches, as further offences could lead to more serious consequences.
For now, Sana remains available for Pakistan's campaign, but the ICC's decision sends a clear message that provocative gestures towards opposition batters will not be tolerated.
