Mohammad Nabi Fined After Double Super Over Heartbreak

Afghanistan veteran Mohammad Nabi has been fined 15% of his match fee and handed one demerit point for a Code of Conduct breach during the 2026 T20 World Cup’s most dramatic match to date.

The incident occurred during Afghanistan’s Group D clash against South Africa on Wednesday, which ended in a historic double Super Over victory for the Proteas at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

The Incident: The “Wristband” Row

The ICC found Nabi guilty of breaching Article 2.4, which relates to “disobeying an umpire’s instruction during an international match.”

The Conflict: At the start of the 14th over of Afghanistan’s innings, Nabi entered into a heated, prolonged argument with the on-field umpires.
The Cause: Nabi was reportedly protesting the wristband worn by South African bowler Lungi Ngidi, leading to a significant delay.
The Verdict: Nabi admitted to the offense and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee David Gilbert, meaning no formal hearing was required.

Match Recap: A 187-Run Thriller

The match is being hailed as one of the greatest in World Cup history, featuring two consecutive Super Overs after both teams were deadlocked at 187 runs in regulation time.

Phase	South Africa	Afghanistan	Result
Regulation (20 Overs)	187/6 (Rickelton 61, De Kock 59)	187/10 (Gurbaz 84)	Tie
Super Over 1	17/1 (Stubbs 6*)	17/0 (Omarzai 14*)	Tie
Super Over 2	23/0 (Miller 16, Stubbs 7)	19/2 (Gurbaz 18)	SA Wins by 4 Runs

T20 World Cup Group D Standings (Feb 12, 2026)

Following the loss, Afghanistan’s chances of reaching the Super 8s are in serious jeopardy.

Rank	Team	Played	Won	Points	Status
1	New Zealand	2	2	4	Top Contender
2	South Africa	2	2	4	Top Contender
3	Afghanistan	2	0	0	Critical
4	UAE	1	0	0	Struggling
5	Canada	1	0	0	Struggling