India fast bowler Arundhati Reddy has been officially reprimanded by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for breaching its Code of Conduct during India's Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match against Pakistan. The incident occurred during the final over of Pakistan's innings when Reddy dismissed veteran Pakistan batter Nida Dar and gestured toward the pavilion, violating ICC’s Article 2.5.

The specific article pertains to “using language, actions or gestures that could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon their dismissal during an international match.” This breach of conduct led to one demerit point being added to Reddy’s disciplinary record. Fortunately, it marks her first offence within the ICC’s two-year disciplinary period, where accumulating four demerit points can lead to a match-ban.

The charges were raised by on-field umpires Eloise Sheridan and Lauren Agenbag, along with third umpire Jacqueline Williams and fourth umpire Claire Polosak. Reddy admitted to the offence and accepted the sanctions proposed by Match Referee Shandre Fritz. As per ICC guidelines for Level 1 breaches, the minimum penalty is an official reprimand, while the maximum can be 50% of a player's match fee, and up to two demerit points.

The fiery moment occurred when Reddy bowled Nida Dar out at a critical juncture, preventing the Pakistani batter from adding valuable late-innings runs. Dar top-scored for Pakistan with 28 off 34 balls, but Reddy’s intense send-off stole the spotlight. As Dar walked back to the pavilion, Reddy pointed toward it, sparking immediate attention from both on-field officials and fans alike.

The video clip of the incident quickly went viral on social media, evoking mixed reactions. Some cricket enthusiasts found the gesture too aggressive for the spirit of the game, while others saw it as an expression of passion in a high-stakes match. The ICC, however, stood firm on its stance against provocative actions on the field.