Pakistan have been handed a heavy penalty by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for maintaining a slow over-rate during the first Test match against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka. As a result, the team has been fined 40 percent of their match fees and also lost eight crucial points in the ICC World Test Championship standings.
The punishment was imposed by Jeff Crowe, a member of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, after Pakistan were found to be eight overs short of the required target once all time allowances were taken into account.
According to Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, teams are penalised for failing to complete their overs within the designated time during Test matches. Under the rule, players are fined five percent of their match fee for every over their side falls short of the required quota. Since Pakistan were eight overs behind, the players received a total fine amounting to 40 percent of their match fees.
In addition to the financial penalty, Pakistan also faced consequences in the ICC World Test Championship points table. Under Article 16.11.2 of the World Test Championship playing conditions, a team loses one championship point for each over short. Consequently, Pakistan were docked eight points from their total in the standings, which could significantly affect their position in the competition.
Pakistan captain Shan Masood accepted responsibility for the offence and admitted the team’s failure to maintain the required over-rate. He agreed to the proposed sanctions, eliminating the need for an official hearing into the matter.
The charge against Pakistan was brought forward by on-field umpires Richard Kettleborough and Kumar Dharmasena, along with third umpire Allahuddien Palekar and fourth umpire Gazi Sohel. The incident adds further pressure on Pakistan as they continue their ICC World Test Championship campaign.
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