Naseem Shah fined for ICC Code of Conduct Breach, says ILT20

DUBAI: Pakistan's right-arm pacer Naseem Shah has been penalised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the Level 1 breach of the apex body's Code of Conduct, International League T20 (ILT20) said on Monday.

According to the league, the 22-year-old was handed a fine of 10 per cent of his match fee for breaching Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which relates to the use of language, actions or gestures that could disparage or provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter following their dismissal. The sanction was imposed by Match Referee Simon Taufel.

"Desert Vipers pacer Naseem Shah has been fined 10 per cent of his match fee for a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct following the DP World ILT20 Season 4 Final against MI Emirates at the Dubai International Stadium on 4 January," ILT20 wrote on its official website.

"Shah was found to have breached Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which relates to the use of language, actions or gestures that could disparage or provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter following their dismissal. The sanction was imposed by Match Referee Simon Taufel."

For the unversed, MI Emirates captain Kieron Pollard and Naseem were involved in a heated verbal altercation during the ILT20 2025-26 final, played here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

The incident occurred in the 11th over when Naseem bowled a delivery that Pollard defended, sending the ball straight back toward the pacer.

The Pakistani pacer picked up the ball and smiled at Pollard, who responded aggressively, prompting a verbal exchange between the two players.

Both players moved closer during the spat, with Pollard appearing visibly angry while exchanging words with the right-handed pacer.

The umpires, along with Vipers batter Jason Roy, intervened to break up the confrontation. Naseem was also seen firing back, leaving both players visibly upset.

However, Naseem got his revenge on the first delivery of the 16th over, dismissing Pollard, who had scored a run-a-ball 28.

Meanwhile, Vipers clinched their maiden ILT20 title after defeating MI Emirates by 46 runs in the final, thanks to a disciplined bowling display led by Naseem Shah and an unbeaten half-century from skipper Sam Curran.