ICC reprimands Imran Tahir for Junaid Jamshed t-shirt
Tahir was reprimanded by ICC for a wicket celebration in which he revealed Junaid Jamshed t-shirt.
Johannesburg (Agencies) - South Africa’s leg-spinner Imran Tahir has been reprimanded by the ICC for a wicket celebration in which he revealed a t-shirt under his playing kit with an image of the late Junaid Jamshed, a one-time Pakistani pop icon and latterly a religious preacher, who was also popular among some former Pakistani cricketers.
Imran Tahir lifted his shirt to reveal a picture of Junaid Jamshed after dismissing Sri Lankan batsman Asela Gunaratne in the second T20 in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Junaid Jamshed was one of the victims of a Pakistan International Airlines plane crash en route to Islamabad in December.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Wednesday that Tahir was reprimanded after he was found to be in breach of Section G1 of the ICC Clothing and Equipment Rules and Regulations. In a media release, the cricket governing body stated that "Imran Tahir has been reprimanded for displaying a personal message without seeking prior approval from his home as well as the ICC during the second Twenty20 International against Sri Lanka in Johannesburg."
The regulation states that "Players and team officials shall not be permitted to wear, display or otherwise convey messages through arm bands or other items affixed to clothing or equipment ("Personal Messages") unless approved in advance by both the player or team official s Board and the ICC Cricket Operations Department. Approval shall not be granted for messages which relate to political, religious or racial activities or causes."
Tahir admitted the offence and accepted the sanction so there was no need for a formal hearing.
