Rizwan, Munro penalized for on-field altercation

LAHORE: Islamabad United batter Colin Munro and Multan Sultans captain Mohammad Rizwan have been fined 30 percent of their match fees following an on-field altercation during their HBL PSL 10 clash on Wednesday. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the sanctions, citing a level 2 breach of the PSL Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel.

According to a PCB statement, the incident falls under Article 2.13 of the Code, which prohibits personal abuse of a player, player support personnel, umpire, or match referee. Both Munro and Rizwan pleaded guilty to the charges and accepted the sanctions proposed by match referee Ali Naqvi.

The heated exchange occurred during Islamabad United’s chase when Colin Munro accused Multan Sultans’ bowler Iftikhar Ahmed of chucking. This prompted a verbal argument between Munro and Rizwan, which momentarily halted the game. The on-field umpires stepped in to de-escalate the situation, and play resumed shortly after.

A video clip of the altercation quickly went viral on PSL’s official social media platforms, drawing significant attention to the incident. Islamabad United secured a seven-wicket victory in the match, maintaining their unbeaten record in PSL 10 and solidifying their position at the top of the points table with 10 points after five matches. The defending champions have emerged as the team to beat this season.

In contrast, the Multan Sultans continued their struggle, suffering their fourth defeat in five matches.The Sultans remain at the bottom of the standings with only two points and a net run rate of -1.764, leaving them with an uphill battle to stay in contention for the playoffs.

The PCB reiterated its commitment to maintaining discipline and sportsmanship in the tournament. The swift sanctions against Rizwan and Munro send a clear message that unsportsmanlike behavior will not be tolerated, ensuring the integrity of the league remains intact.