Shafali Verma Demerit Point Follows Dropped Catch In Raipur

Shafali Verma has taken one demerit point and an official reprimand for a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct in the second Women's T20I against Zimbabwe at Raipur. The sanction, confirmed on 20 October, covers Article 2.2. She admitted the offence and accepted the penalty, so no hearing was held.

The incident in the 12th over

Zimbabwe were batting. In the 12th over, Shafali dropped Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano at mid-off off the bowling of Sree Charani. She then threw the ball into the ground. Article 2.2 of the Code for Players and Player Support Personnel covers the abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an international match.

The match was played on 18 October. India won it by nine wickets to take the three-match series.

Reprimand and one demerit point

A Level 1 offence carries a minimum of a reprimand and a maximum of half a match fee, with one or two demerit points attached. Shafali drew the lighter end of that range. It is her first offence in a 24-month window, so her running total stands at one point.

Demerit points stay on an ICC record for 24 months before being expunged automatically. Four points inside that window convert into a suspension. On the current total, the deadline for Shafali's point to clear is October 2028.

Officials on the charge sheet

Match referee G.S. Lakshmi of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees proposed the sanction. Four officials levelled the charge.

• Vrinda Rathi, on-field umpire
• Gayathri Venugopalan, on-field umpire
• Anna Harris, third umpire
• Janani Narayanan, fourth umpire

India and Zimbabwe met again at Raipur on 20 October for the third T20I. Shafali is India's vice-captain for the series.