India pacer Kranti Gaud has been fined 10 per cent of her match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct in the Women’s Asia Cup Final against Sri Lanka in Dubai. The sanction was announced on 14 September 2026, after Gaud committed a Level 1 offence. The punishment followed an action after she took a wicket in the opening over of Sri Lanka’s innings. The incident came after India had won the title.
The incident happened when Gaud dismissed Sri Lanka opener Imesha Dulani. She then gestured towards the pavilion. This led to a charge under Article 2.5. The article 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 charge was connected to Gaud’s gesture after the dismissal and was handled under the ICC Code of Conduct.
Gaud admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Supriya Rani Das of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees. There was no need for a formal hearing because she accepted the sanction. One demerit point was added to her disciplinary record. This was Gaud’s first offence in a 24-month period, making it her first disciplinary matter during that period. The case was therefore completed through the ICC’s disciplinary process.
Gaud’s punishment was a fine of 10 per cent of her match fee and one demerit point. The offence is a Level 1 breach. Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee. They can also lead to one or two demerit points. The punishment given to Gaud therefore falls within the penalty range for this level of offence.
The charge was levelled by the match officials in the final. Saleema Imtiaz and Shathira Jakir Jesy were the on-field umpires, Rokeya Sultana was the third umpire and Humaira Farah was the fourth umpire. Their report followed the incident. Gaud later accepted the proposed sanction after the charge was made by the match officials. This meant the matter was settled without a formal hearing and no further disciplinary hearing was required.
The sanction came after India won the Women’s Asia Cup Final. India defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the summit clash in Dubai and lifted the title for a record eighth time. Gaud’s case was separate from the result. India remained champions after the 72-run victory. The final gave India another Asia Cup title, while Gaud’s disciplinary matter was handled separately through the ICC Code of Conduct process.
Pakistan also received a separate sanction during the Asia Cup. The team was fined five per cent of their match fee for a slow over-rate in the semifinal against Sri Lanka on Friday. G.S. Lakshmi of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after Pakistan were ruled to be one over short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration. The sanction was issued under the ICC rules.
The Pakistan offence came under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel. Players are fined five per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time. Pakistan captain Fatima Sana pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so no formal hearing was needed. Her acceptance allowed the case to be completed through the ICC disciplinary process.
Vrinda Rathi and Shathira Jakir Jesy were the on-field umpires, with Rokeya Sultana as third umpire and Rabab Ahsan as fourth umpire. They levelled the charge after Pakistan were one over short. The five per cent fine followed the ICC’s minimum over-rate rule. Sana’s acceptance closed the matter without a formal hearing. The charge was dealt with separately from India’s final victory and Gaud’s Level 1 offence.
The two cases came during the closing stages of the Women’s Asia Cup. Gaud was sanctioned for her gesture after dismissing Imesha Dulani, while Pakistan were punished for their slow over-rate against Sri Lanka. Both matters were handled through the ICC Code of Conduct process. India, meanwhile, finished the tournament as champions after defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final in Dubai.
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