A T20I between Malta and Belgium was decided in unprecedented circumstances, with Malta bowled out three runs short of their target, only for the match officials to award five penalty runs to reverse the result.

Chasing 129 to win, Malta were bowled out in the final over for 125, but five penalty runs took their total up to 130, with the hosts Malta declared victorious.

While exact details of the incident are uncertain, it is reported by European Cricket Network (ECN), who are live-streaming the series and have commentators at the ground, that Belgium were punished under the recently introduced Law 42, which allows penalty runs to be awarded if there is “serious misconduct”.

ICC playing condition 42.2.1 states that any of the following actions by a player shall constitute a Level 4 offence:

– threatening to assault an umpire

– making inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with an umpire

– physically assaulting a player or any other person

– committing any other act of violence.

ECN reported in the comments of their YouTube live-stream that Belgium captain Shaheryar Butt had abused and threatened the umpire, with associate cricket journalist Bertus de Jong reporting that the incident had occurred in the innings break.

Very strange business. Word is the offence actually happened during the innings break, but the Belgian camp were apparently only informed of the potential penalty runs at the end of the 19th over of the chase. Am promised an official statement shortly.

— Bertus de Jong (@BdJcricket) July 10, 2021

Whatever transpired, it appears the match officials have erred in their application of Law 42.

This states that any in-game punishment must be handed down when a breach occurs, rather than at the end of a game. While there is provision in clause 42.2.1 to delay calling and signalling dead ball to discuss the breach with the other officials, so as not to “disadvantage the non-offending side”, to delay a call for an entire innings is irregular. There was a significant delay at the end of the 19th over of the chase as the match officials converged, and had penalty runs been handed down at that point, Malta would have been declared winners by one wicket. However, while de Jong reported that the Belgium team were informed of the breach at this stage, it was only after the final wicket fell that penalty runs were awarded.

The result has been recorded variously as a Malta win by 0 wickets and a Malta win by penalty runs.

The game was the fourth of a five-match series, and left the scoreline poised at 2-2. Butt did not take the field for the final game, which began soon after the conclusion of the penultimate match. Given he is accused of a Level 4 offence, the ICC’s general counsel will be involved in the process going forward. If found guilty, he will be suspended for at least 12 games, with the maximum penalty a lifetime ban.