Pratika Rawal Penalised For Breaching Code of Conduct against England

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has imposed a huge fine on the Indian cricketer Pratika Rawal for breaching the Code of Conduct during the first ODI match against England. The match was played earlier this week where Pratika contributed with 36 off 51 balls and provided solidity at the top.

Not just Pratika, the England team were also fined for their slow over rate during the match. The fine comes as a huge blow to both the parties who will be aiming to make some valuable contributions throughout the series. The punishment shows ICC's strict behaviour towards any kind of Code of Conduct breach.

Why was Pratika Rawal Fined?

The 24-year-old batter, Pratika Rawal, committed a Level 1 offence under the ICC Code of Conduct and as a result, she was fined 10% of her match fee. The youngster also received one demerit point on her record. Rawal was found guilty of two different incidents during the match. The first happened in the 18th over of India’s batting.

While trying to take a single, Rawal made “avoidable physical contact” with England’s bowler Lauren Filer. The second incident occurred after Rawal got out. On her way back to the dressing room, she again made contact this time with England spinner, Sophie Ecclestone. The ICC claimed that the contact was unnecessary and against the spirit of the game.

This is Rawal’s first offence in the last 24 months. It confirmed the punishment in an official statement. Rawal accepted the charges and agreed to the sanction given by match referee Sarah Bartlett. Therefore, there was no need for a formal hearing. It is to be noted that Level 1 breaches are the least serious under the ICC’s Code of Conduct. However, they still carry penalties. These can include a warning, a fine of up to 50% of match fees, and one or two demerit points.

Pratika Rawal is one of the key components of India's ODI line-up. She has had a fantastic start to her international career and will be key to the team's chances in the upcoming ODI World Cup as well.

England Slow Over Rate Fine

Meanwhile, England also faced punishment after the match. The ICC fined the team 5% of their match fees for maintaining a slow over-rate. The English side was found to be one over short after taking all time allowances into account.

The ICC stated, “According to Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, teams are fined five per cent of their match fee for every over they fail to bowl in the given time.”

Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt accepted the fine. Both teams will now focus on the next two games of the ODI series. The second ODI in London on July 19 is expected to be another exciting contest. India will look to seal the series, while England will aim to bounce back.

Despite the controversy, India went on to win the first ODI. The match was part of a three-game series. England batted first and scored 258 for 6 in 50 overs. Sophia Dunkley played well and made 83 runs. In reply, India chased down the target with the help of Deepti Sharma and Jemimah Rodrigues.
The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side now lead the ODI series 1-0. Earlier, they also won the T20I series.