Chasing a Target of 248, Pakistan Could Only Manage 159 Runs in 43 Overs Despite Sidra Amin’s Brilliant Knock of 81

Advertisment

Pakistan top order batter Sidra Amin has been fined 50 percent of her match fee and handed one demerit point during the Women’s World Cup 2025 match against India in Colombo on Sunday. 

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said that Amin has been reprimanded for forcefully hitting her bat on the pitch after she was dismissed in the 40th over of the Pakistan innings.

The Incident

Pakistan was struggling with back-to-back dismissals to chase a modest target of 248 set by India. The incident occurred in the 40th over of Pakistan's chase when she "forcefully hit her bat onto the pitch" after being dismissed by Sneh Rana. Pakistan’s lone warrior Sidra scored a valiant knock of 81 in 106 balls.

Advertisment

ICC’s Code of Conduct & Penalty

"Sidra was found to have breached Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to 'abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match'," the ICC said in a media release.

"In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to her disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in 24 months," the ICC said.

"Sidra admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Shandré Fritz of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees, so there was no need for a formal hearing," it added.

Advertisment

"Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player's match fee, and one or two demerit points," the ICC said in the press release.

The charges were levelled by on-field umpires Lauren Agenbag and Nimali Perera, along with third umpire Kerrin Klaaste and fourth umpire Kim Cotton.

Sidra Amin’s Desperate Effort vs India

The number 3 batter for Pakistan came after the controversial run out of opener Muneeba Ali in the fourth over. Chasing a target of 248, Pakistan could only manage 159 runs in 43 overs despite Amin’s brilliant knock of 81 in 106 balls. 

Advertisment

Having won the toss, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana decided to bowl first, with the pitch in Colombo being under covers for 48 hours due to rain. Restricting India below 250, Pakistan, for the first time in 12 instances, bowled India out in this format. However, it proved to be well beyond their reach, despite Sidra Amin’s lone battle.

After an 88-run victory, India registered an impeccable record of winning all 12 of the ODIs that they have played against Pakistan in Women’s cricket. As predicted, the no-handshake saga between India and Pakistan continued as Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur refused to acknowledge her Pakistani counterpart Fatima Sana at the toss before the marquee Women's World Cup 2025 match.