Mortaza suspended for one ODI for slow over-rate offence

Colombo April 2 (IANS) Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza was on Sunday suspended for a match and fined 40 per cent of his match fee while his players have been fined 20 per cent of their match fees for maintaining a slow over-rate during the third ODI against Sri Lanka.

The charge was laid by on-field umpires Michael Gough and Ruchira Palliyaguruge third umpire S. Ravi and fourth official Ranmore Martinesz.

Andy Pycroft of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the suspension on the all-rounder after Bangladesh was ruled to be two overs short of its target after time allowances were taken into consideration according to an International Cricket Council s (ICC) release.

In accordance with Article 2.5.1 and Appendix 2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Players Support Personnel which deals with minor over-rate offences players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time with the captain fined double that amount.

As Mashrafe had previously been found guilty of a minor over-rate offence during the first ODI against New Zealand in Christchurch on 26 December 2016 this offence constituted his second minor over-rate offence within a 12-month period which has led to a suspension.

--IANS
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