**Afghanistan’s veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi** has been fined 15% of his match fee and given one demerit point. This was done because he breached Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during his team’s thrilling defeat to South Africa in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group D match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.

The ICC announced this punishment on Thursday, 12 February. Nabi violated Article 2.4, which deals with “disobeying the direction of an umpire during an international match”. The incident occurred at the beginning of the 14th over of Afghanistan’s innings, when 41-year-old Nabi had a long argument with the umpires over the wristband of South African pacer Lungi Ngidi. On-field umpires Jayaraman Madangopal and Sharafuddaula Ibne Shahid, third umpire Nitin Menon and fourth umpire K.N. Ananthapadmanabhan alleged.

Nabi admitted his mistake and accepted ICC International Panel Match Referee David Gilbert’s proposed punishment, sparing him a formal hearing. This was his first mistake in 24 months. Level 1 breaches carry a minimum of an official reprimand, a fine of up to 50% of the match fee and 1-2 demerit points.

This penalty added to Afghanistan’s misery after this dramatic defeat. South Africa made 187/6 (Ryan Rickelton 61, Quinton de Kock 59; Azmatullah Omarzai 3/41). Afghanistan responded by scoring 187 runs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 84; Lungi Ngidi 3/26) in 19.4 overs, and amid extras and drama the match was tied on the last ball.

The first super over was tied at 17-17. In the historic second Super Over—the first double Super Over in T20 World Cup history—South Africa scored 23/0, while Afghanistan finished at 19/2, losing by four runs. Standout moments included Tristan Stubbs’ six off the last ball in the first Super Over, leading to the second Super Over, and Gurbaz hitting three consecutive sixes in the last over, but lost.

With two defeats in two matches, Afghanistan’s path to the Super 8 is now very difficult.