New Delhi (India) March 10:Arshdeep Singh, a fast bowler for the Indian cricket team, faced a fine of 15% of his match fee for a breach of the ICC Code of Conduct during the T20 World Cup final against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. According to an official ICC press release, the violation fell under Article 2.9, which emphasizes that players and support staff should avoid throwing the ball or any cricket gear at someone in a harmful or unsafe manner.

Accidental Hit Led to Heated Player Exchange

In the match, Mitchell had simply returned the ball to Arshdeep, but in an attempt to make a direct hit at the stumps, Arshdeep accidentally struck the batter instead. This led to a heated exchange between the two players, prompting India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, to step in and diffuse the situation. 

Arshdeep Apologizes, Shares Light Moment

After the match, Arshdeep reached out to Mitchell and expressed his apologies. The two were later seen sharing a light-hearted moment and exchanging friendly words.
“I went to say sorry to Mitchell. My throw reverse-swung a bit too much and it hit his body, so I told him that I didn't hit him intentionally," said Arshdeep.

First Offense in 24 Months, No Hearing Needed

This incident marks the first disciplinary offense for Arshdeep in 24 months, adding demerit to his record. Fortunately, he complied with the request of Andy Pycroft, a member of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, which meant that a formal hearing was not necessary.
In Level 1 violations, players can receive an official reprimand, face fines of up to 50% of their match fee, and accumulate one or two demerit points. Accumulating four or more demerit points within a 24-month period can lead to suspension from the game.

India Wins T20 World Cup by 96 Runs

Despite the incident, Team India made history on Sunday evening by clinching the T20 World Cup trophy with a commanding 96-run victory over New Zealand. Batting first, India posted an impressive total of 255/5 in their 20 overs, with Sanju Samson leading the charge with a remarkable 89 runs off just 46 balls. On the bowling front, Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah were in fine form, taking three and four wickets respectively, and made New Zealand all out for 159 runs.