Cutting and Sohail fined for violating PSL 2022 code of conduct

Ben Cutting of Peshawar Zalmi and Sohail Tanvir of Quetta Gladiators have both been penalised 15% of their match costs for breaching a Level 1 infringement under the PSL Code of Conduct during their respective teams' encounter in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022 on Tuesday.

Both players were declared to have breached Article 2.6 of the PSL Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which prevents from “using a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting during a PSL Match”.

Cutting was involved in the incident in the penultimate over of Zalmi's innings, when the batter made inappropriate gestures with his fingers after hitting the bowler for a third consecutive six, the PCB stated.

After catching Cutting off Naseem Shah on the first ball of the final over, Sohail made similar gestures.

"Inappropriate gestures have no place in this great sport," said match referee Ali Naqvi. He said that as role models, the players must always understand and remember their on- and off-field obligations.

"Behaviour like this sends out a wrong message to the younger generation of cricketers. The PSL 2022 is being played in good, positive spirits and I would like to see the players continue to fight hard inside the field of play but at the same time to remain within the parameters of the spirit of the game,” he added.

Cutting and Sohail both pleaded guilty to the charges and agreed to the penalties set by Ali Naqvi, thus there was no need for a formal hearing. The charges were levelled by on-field umpires Michael Gough and Rashid Riaz, third umpire Asif Yaqoob and fourth umpire Waleed Yaqoob.

According to PCB, all first-time offences of Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official warning and/or imposition of a fine of up to 25 per cent of the applicable match fee.