In a dramatic turn of events during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025, Multan Sultans captain Mohammad Rizwan has been fined 30% of his match fee for a Level 2 breach of the PSL Code of Conduct. The incident occurred during a fiery match between Multan Sultans and Islamabad United on Wednesday, which saw tempers flare between Rizwan and Islamabad’s opener Colin Munro.
Rizwan Penalized for Personal Abuse in On-Field Clash
According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Mohammad Rizwan was charged under the clause related to “personal abuse of a player, player support personnel, umpire or match referee.” The fine stems from a heated exchange between Rizwan and Munro after the latter made a controversial gesture suggesting that Multan bowler Iftikhar Ahmed was bowling with an illegal action.
The gesture, seen during the second innings, did not sit well with Rizwan, who confronted Munro on the field in a visibly angry manner. Match officials deemed the behavior of both players to exceed the bounds of acceptable aggression, escalating it from a Level 1 to a Level 2 offense.
Rizwan Accepts Charges, PCB Confirms
While Colin Munro initiated the incident with his “chucking” gesture, both players were found guilty and handed the same penalty. Match referee Ali Naqvi and the PCB considered the full context before imposing the fines. Rizwan accepted the charge and pleaded guilty.
No formal complaint was filed regarding Iftikhar Ahmed’s bowling action, and his record remains clean, with no past allegations of an illegal bowling style. The PCB emphasized that the issue was not about the legality of Iftikhar’s action, but the conduct of the players involved.
Context of Previous Incidents in Pakistan Cricket
This isn’t the first time a Pakistani bowler has faced on-field accusations of illegal bowling action. Notably, Marcus Stoinis accused Mohammad Hasnain during a Hundred match in 2022, and Ross Taylor appeared to question Mohammad Hafeez’s action in 2018. Such gestures have often led to controversies and strong reactions from the Pakistan cricket fraternity.
Islamabad United Clinches Victory Despite Incident
Despite the controversy, Islamabad United emerged victorious in the match, chasing down the target comfortably. Munro played a key role in the win, scoring 45 runs off 28 balls before being caught by Iftikhar off Michael Bracewell’s bowling.
Additional Disciplinary Action: Aamer Jamal Fined
In a separate incident, Karachi Kings’ pacer Aamer Jamal was fined 5% of his match fee for a Level 1 offense after giving a send-off to Peshawar Zalmi batter Hussain Talat. Jamal, like Rizwan and Munro, accepted the charge.
