South Africa’s left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba has been handed a demerit point for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the Women’s World Cup 2025 match against India. The incident occurred in the 17th over of India’s innings when Mlaba, after dismissing Harleen Deol, waved goodbye to the batter—a gesture the ICC deemed potentially provocative.
Mlaba Receives Demerit for ICC Code Violation
According to an ICC statement on October 11, Mlaba violated Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel. This article pertains to “using language, actions, or gestures that disparage or could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter during an international match.”
The offence was reported by on-field umpires Jacqueline Williams and Kim Cotton, along with third umpire Candace Le Borde and fourth umpire Sue Redfern. Mlaba admitted her mistake and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Trudy Anderson, which included an official reprimand and a demerit point on her disciplinary record.
“𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒕 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 24 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒉𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑰𝑪𝑪’𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏,”
Mlaba said.
“𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒇𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔.”
Under ICC rules, accumulating four or more demerit points within a 24-month period can result in a suspension of one Test, two ODIs, or two T20Is.
South Africa Edges India in Thrilling Win
On the field, South Africa managed a narrow three-wicket victory over India. Chasing 252, the Proteas reached the target in 48.5 overs. India posted 251 all out in 49.5 overs, with Richa Ghosh top-scoring with 94 runs. Chloe Tryon was exceptional with the ball, taking 3 wickets for 32 runs in her ten-over spell.
South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt anchored the innings with a steady 70, while Nadine de Klerk played a match-winning knock of 84* off 54 balls, earning the Player of the Match award.
“𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒂 𝒔𝒆𝒕 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆,” 𝑾𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒂𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒕 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅. “𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒆𝒇𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒕, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑵𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒆’𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆.”
Following the match, India Women are in third place on the points table, while South Africa Women are in fourth place. India will face Australia on October 12, while South Africa takes on Bangladesh on October 13, with both matches scheduled in Visakhapatnam.
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