World Cup 2019 | Virat Kohli found guilty of breaching ICC Code of Conduct, fined 25 percent of match fee. Read statement here

A day after India's nail-biting 11-run win over Afghanistan, skipper Virat Kohli has been found guilty of breaching ICC's Code of Conduct and has been fined 25 per cent of his match fee. On Saturday, Kohli was found to have breached Article 2.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to Éxcessive appealing during an International match.

The incident happened during the 29th over of Afghanistan's run chase when Kohli advanced towards umpire Aleem Dar in an aggressive manner when appealing for an lbw decision. The Indian captain admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Chris Broad of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, and as such, there was no need for a formal hearing.

Batting first, India got to a respectable total of 224/8 in their 50 overs.

In reply, the Afghans got off to a decent start but were losing wickets just when it looked like they would get the momentum. All-rounder Mohammad Nabi restored Afghanistan's hopes with a gritty half-century but his wicket in the final over off Shami ended the Afghan hopes. Shami then completed the formality by picking up the wickets of tail-enders Aftab Alam and Mujeeb Ur Rahman off consecutive deliveries as Afghanistan were bowled out for 213 with a ball to spare. 

Read ICC's full press release statement here:

India captain Virat Kohli has been fined 25 per cent of his match fee for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the ICC Cricket World Cup match against Afghanistan at Southampton on Saturday.

"Kohli was found to have breached Article 2.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “Excessive appealing during an International Match”.

Saturday’s incident occurred in the 29th over of the Afghanistan innings, when Kohli advanced towards umpire Aleem Dar in an aggressive manner when appealing an lbw decision. Kohli admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Chris Broad of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, and as such, there was no need for a formal hearing.

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In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to the disciplinary record of Kohli, for whom it was the second offence since the introduction of the revised Code in September 2016. Kohli now has two demerit points after having got one demerit point during the Pretoria Test against South Africa on 15 January 2018.

On-field umpires Aleem Dar and Richard Illingworth, third umpire Richard Kettleborough and fourth official Michael Gough levelled the charges. Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.

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