Fatima Sana penalised for Verma send-off in Women’s Asia Cup match against India

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana has been fined 10 per cent of her match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the team’s Women’s Asia Cup match against India, according to an International Cricket Council media release published on Monday.

The offence occurred in the Women’s Asia Cup clash between India and Pakistan on Saturday, where the skipper dismissed Indian opener Shafali Verma and gestured towards the pavilion as a send-off.

As per the media release, this gesturing meant Fatima was found in a Level 1 breach of the governing body’s Code of Conduct, specifically Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel. This offence pertains to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage, or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his/her dismissal during an International Match.”

The contest was a heavily one-sided affair, which saw India blow Pakistan out of the water. The Green Shirts were bowled out for 55, their lowest-ever score in T20 internationals, owing to a masterful spin-show by India. The Women in Blue breezed through the chase, hampered only by an early three-wicket haul by the Pakistan skipper, which saw her remove the Indian top order.

In addition to the match fees penalty, one demerit point was also added to Fatima’s disciplinary record, bringing her tally to two.

Her singular earlier offence for a 24-month period had come in a match against Ireland in Dublin in August 2025.

“Fatima admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Supriya Rani Das of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees, so there was no need for a formal hearing,” said the release, adding that the charge was levelled by the two on-field umpires, the third and the fourth umpires.

While Level 1 offences usually incur a “maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points,” an accumulation of four or more demerit points within the stipulated period would entail they get converted to suspension points, with the player getting banned thereby.

Pakistan play their next match of the Asia Cup in Dubai against Hong Kong on Monday night, where they will look to seal their semi-final berth.