ICC fines Fatima Sana for Verma send-off

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana has been fined 10% of her match fee and received one demerit point from the International Cricket Council for her conduct towards India's Shafali Verma during a Women's Asia Cup match. The incident occurred on Saturday, September 5, 2026, in Dubai, following Verma's dismissal in the second over of India's chase. Sana, who took a caught-and-bowled catch to dismiss Verma for 12 runs off six balls, gestured towards the pavilion as Verma walked off. The action was deemed a breach of Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct, specifically Article 2.5, which prohibits gestures that disparage a batter or could provoke an aggressive reaction after dismissal. The International Cricket Council announced the sanction on Monday, September 7, 2026. The dismissal came after Pakistan was bowled out for their lowest-ever total in Women's T20I cricket, scoring just 55 runs in 18.1 overs. Commentator Vivek Razdan criticized Sana's send-off during the live broadcast, questioning the gesture given her team's low score. Fans on social media also expressed criticism, with many feeling the aggressive send-off was unnecessary in a match India was comfortably controlling.