Pakistan captain Fatima Sana has been hit with an ICC conduct fine after making a gesture towards opener Shafali Verma following her dismissal during a DP World Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 Group A match against India at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 5 September 2026.
The ICC fined Fatima 10 per cent of her match fee and added one demerit point to her disciplinary record. The sanction was confirmed in an ICC media release.
What Fatima Sana was charged with
Fatima was found to have breached Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates 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 incident occurred in the second over of India’s innings. Fatima had just dismissed Shafali Verma and gestured in the direction of the pavilion.
Fatima admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Supriya Rani Das, a member of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees, making a formal hearing unnecessary. On-field umpires Nimali Perera and Shathira Jakir Jesy, third umpire Rokeya Sultana and fourth umpire Rabab Ahsan levelled the charge.
Fatima Sana ICC conduct fine and her demerit record
The demerit point is Fatima’s second within a 24-month period. Her first came during the opening match of a T20I series against Ireland in Dublin on 6 August 2025, bringing her running tally to two demerit points.
Under ICC rules, Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, along with one or two demerit points. When a player accumulates four or more demerit points within 24 months, those points convert into suspension points and a ban follows. Two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test, two ODIs, or two T20Is, whichever comes first. Demerit points remain on a player’s record for 24 months from the date of imposition, after which they are expunged.
Fatima was Pakistan’s most effective bowler on the day, taking 3 wickets for 17 runs, dismissing Verma, Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana. Despite her figures, Pakistan were bowled out for 55 in what proved their lowest-ever T20I score. India reached the 56-run target to stay unbeaten in Group A.
Shafali Verma had reached the 3,000-run milestone in T20Is during the chase, hitting the first ball over the ropes before Fatima dismissed her two overs later.
India’s overall head-to-head record against Pakistan in Women’s T20Is stood at 14 wins to Pakistan’s 3 going into the tournament. The eight-team DP World Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 was played at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with Pakistan’s squad captained by Fatima throughout Group A.
Fatima now sits on two demerit points with 24 months before the older point expires. A third offence within the window would put her one point away from the conversion threshold that triggers a suspension.
