Asif Ali (R) and Fareed Ahmad argue after a dismissal during the Asia Cup match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. AFP

Gulf Today, Staff Report

Pakistan's batter Asif Ali and Afghanistan fast bowler Fareed Ahmad have been fined 25 per cent of their match fees for a heated exchange in their thrilling Asia Cup match at Sharjah International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday night.

The Afghans suffered a heartbreaking one-wicket loss to Pakistan to crash out of the Twenty20 tournament along with heavyweights India.

The incident occurred in the 19th over of the game, when Afghanistan's fast pacer Fareed came up and made inappropriate physical contact with Asif after dismissing him.

Fareed Ahmad and Asif Ali react after a dismissal during the T20 match of Asia Cup in Sharjah. AP

Tempers flared when Fareed dismissed Asif and "made inappropriate physical contact" with the batsman, who "reacted with an aggressive gesture of the bat," the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Thursday.

Asif breached Article 2. 6 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “using a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting during an International Match” while Fareed was found to have breached Article 2.1. 12, which relates to “inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator) during an International Match.”

The ICC said that both players admitted their offenses and accepted the sanctions proposed by the match referee.

One demerit point each has been added to the disciplinary records of the players, both of whom did not have any previous offence in a 24-month period.

Pakistan No.10 batter Naseem Shah smashed back-to-back sixes in the last over to clinch victory for Pakistan and also a place in Sunday’s final against Sri Lanka at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.