Stuart Broad fined by father for Yasir Shah send-off
SOUTHAMPTON (AFP) - England's Stuart Broad was fined and given one demerit point by his father Chris, for a breach of the ICC's code of conduct involving Pakistan's Yasir Shah during the first Test against Pakistan.
Broad was fined 15% of his match fee — equivalent to around £2,000 ($2,617) for a level one breach and also given one demerit point for using inappropriate language when dismissing Yasir following a flurry of runs in Pakistan's second innings at Old Trafford on Saturday, hours before England completed a three-wicket win. Broad admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Chris Broad, the former England batsman who is now a match referee. The punishment prompted Broad to joke on Twitter that his father was "off the Christmas card and present list". Broad senior would not normally be officiating in a match involving his son. But in a bid to cope with travel restrictions imposed by the coronavirus, Chris Broad — the only Englishman on the ICC's elite panel of referees —together with a team of English umpires, is officiating in the current three-match series. Chris Broad also presided over England's 2-1 win against the West Indies last month. Under the interim COVID-19 regulations, all such decisions are referred back to the ICC's headquarters in Dubai to guard against accusations of bias. But as Stuart Broad did not contest the charge brought by on-field umpires Richard Kettleborough and Richard Illingworth, there was no need for a formal hearing. Stuart Broad now has three demerit points on his record. The two previous instances concern Broad's use of a swear word towards South Africa's Faf du Plessis in Johannesburg in January and "aggressive language" directed at India's Rishabh Pant two years ago. Demerit points stay on a player's record for 24 months, meaning the Pant sanction will lapse next week. Broad, however, could risk a one-match ban if he commits a similar offence during the second Test against Pakistan at Southampton, starting on Thursday.
