Afghanistan's Hashmatullah Shahidi fined for pitch damage in 3rd ODI vs India
Synopsis
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi ignored two informal warnings and a formal caution before running down the pitch again in the 40th over — costing his team five penalty runs and earning an ICC reprimand. The discipline drama unfolded on a day when Prasidh Krishna's 5 for 23 and Jaiswal's unbeaten 110 made the result a foregone conclusion anyway.
Key Takeaways
Hashmatullah Shahidi received an official ICC reprimand for breaching Article 2.10.10 — deliberate or avoidable pitch damage — during the 3rd ODI in Chennai .
One demerit point added to Shahidi's record; his first offence in a 24-month period.
Afghanistan were penalised five runs after Shahidi ran on the pitch in the 40th over despite prior warnings.
Prasidh Krishna claimed 5 for 23 — his maiden ODI five-wicket haul — bowling Afghanistan out for 218 .
Yashasvi Jaiswal hit an unbeaten 110 off 86 balls ; India won by 9 wickets with 128 balls remaining.
The series win is Shubman Gill's first as India's ODI captain.
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi has been handed an official reprimand by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the third ODI against India in Chennai. The sanction follows deliberate pitch damage during Afghanistan's innings, which also resulted in a five-run penalty against his side.
What the ICC Found
According to the ICC, Shahidi was found guilty under Article 2.10.10 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which covers a batter causing deliberate or avoidable damage to the pitch. One demerit point has been added to his disciplinary record — his first offence within a 24-month period.
Notably, Shahidi had been warned twice informally for running on the pitch while batting, before receiving a formal official warning in the 31st over of Afghanistan's innings. He nonetheless ran down the pitch again in the 40th over, triggering the five-run penalty.
Shahidi's Innings and Afghanistan's Total
Despite the disciplinary cloud, Shahidi delivered a fighting performance with the bat, scoring 102 runs — his maiden ODI century. His knock helped Afghanistan post 218 in 44.2 overs after being bowled out, but it ultimately proved insufficient against a dominant Indian side.
Prasidh Krishna and Jaiswal Star for India
Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna claimed a career-best 5 for 23 in nine overs, dismantling Afghanistan's batting lineup with pace, bounce, and swing. Crucially, he took four wickets within the powerplay, putting Afghanistan under pressure from the outset.
In reply, openers Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal forged a 170-run partnership — which included the five penalty runs — with Rohit contributing 79. Jaiswal then went on to register an unbeaten 110 off 86 balls, his second ODI century in three innings, studded with 14 boundaries and three sixes. India completed the chase with a massive 128 balls to spare, winning by nine wickets.
Series Victory and Gill's Milestone
The result handed India a series victory — the first under Shubman Gill as ODI captain. India had started the chase positively, reaching 42 without loss at the end of five overs before accelerating to 86 without loss at the powerplay close. The comprehensive win underlines India's depth across both bowling and batting departments heading into future assignments.
Point of View
The incident overshadows what was otherwise a landmark personal knock: his maiden ODI century. Afghanistan's management will need to address why repeated warnings from on-field umpires were disregarded. For India, the more significant story is the emergence of Prasidh Krishna as a genuine powerplay threat and Jaiswal's rapid consolidation as a top-order anchor in white-ball cricket — both developments that strengthen Gill's hand as he builds his captaincy identity.
NationPress
21 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Hashmatullah Shahidi fined by the ICC?
Shahidi was sanctioned for breaching Article 2.10.10 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which prohibits batters from causing deliberate or avoidable damage to the pitch. He continued to run on the pitch in the 40th over despite two informal warnings and a formal official warning in the 31st over.
What penalty did Afghanistan face during the match?
Afghanistan were docked five runs as an on-field penalty after Shahidi ran down the pitch in the 40th over. This came after the umpires had already issued multiple warnings that were not heeded.
How many demerit points does Shahidi now have?
Shahidi has been issued one demerit point, his first offence within a 24-month period. Under ICC rules, accumulating four demerit points within 24 months triggers a match ban.
What was Prasidh Krishna's performance in the third ODI?
Prasidh Krishna returned career-best figures of 5 for 23 in nine overs, his maiden ODI five-wicket haul. He took four of those wickets inside the powerplay, helping bowl Afghanistan out for 218 in 44.2 overs.
What does the series win mean for Shubman Gill?
The victory sealed India's first ODI series win under Shubman Gill as captain, marking a significant early milestone in his white-ball leadership tenure.
