Kranti Gaud fined as Women's Asia Cup sanctions reach five

Kranti Gaud has been fined 10 percent of her match fee for a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct. She also picked up one demerit point. The offence came in the Women's Asia Cup final at Dubai International Stadium. Gaud bowled Sri Lanka opener Imesha Dulani in the first over and gestured towards the pavilion. She admitted the offence and accepted the sanction, so no hearing was needed.

The charge falls under Article 2.5. That clause covers "using language, actions or gestures which disparage, or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his/her dismissal". Supriya Rani Das was the match referee. On-field umpires Saleema Imtiaz and Shathira Jakir Jesy laid the charge, with third umpire Rokeya Sultana and fourth umpire Humaira Farah.

The dismissal that drew the charge

The final was played in Dubai on Sunday. Dulani had taken four from the first ball of the innings. Gaud bowled her later in the same over. Sri Lanka never recovered. They were dismissed for 111 in reply to 183 for 5. India won the final by 72 runs.

Shafali Verma reached fifty in 24 balls, the fastest in Women's T20 Asia Cup history. Smriti Mandhana made 59 from 39. Shree Charani took four wickets, removing Samarawickrama, Dilhari, Silva and Kumari. Chamari Athapaththu was stumped off Deepti Sharma, who also took the last wicket.

Five sanctions in one tournament

The ICC issued the Gaud sanction on Monday, the day after the final. She is the second player fined under Article 2.5 at this Asia Cup. Pakistan captain Fatima Sana was penalised for the same offence against India on 5 September. Four sanctions followed hers before the trophy was lifted.

• Fatima Sana, Pakistan: 10 percent, Article 2.5 send-off against India
• Gull Feroza, Pakistan: 10 percent, Article 2.8 dissent against Hong Kong
• Bangladesh: 5 percent, one over short against Sri Lanka
• Pakistan: 5 percent, slow over-rate in the semi-final against Sri Lanka
• Kranti Gaud, India: 10 percent, Article 2.5 send-off in the final

Demerit points and the 24-month window

Demerit points sit on a record for 24 months. Gaud picked up her first. Fatima Sana moved to two with her Asia Cup fine. Gull Feroza also reached two, following an offence on 23 June.

The two over-rate fines were levied at 5 percent per over short. Bangladesh finished one over behind against Sri Lanka on 8 September. Pakistan were sanctioned on the same scale in the semi-final.

India collect the trophy in Dubai

India went through the tournament unbeaten. The win was their eighth Asia Cup title and their tenth final in a row. Pakistan and Bangladesh went out at the semi-final stage. Sri Lanka had beaten Pakistan to reach the final.