Pakistan's cricket team has been hit with a penalty after being found guilty of a slow over-rate during their first One Day International (ODI) match against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi. The incident occurred on Tuesday, and the repercussions are now being felt by the team.
Ali Naqvi, a member of the Emirates ICC Panel of Match Referees, handed down the sanction. The Shaheen Afridi-led team was found to be four overs short of the required target after all time allowances were factored in. This resulted in a fine of 20 percent of their match fee.
According to Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which addresses minimum over-rate offences, players are fined five percent of their match fee for each over their team fails to bowl within the allotted time. This regulation ensures that matches maintain a reasonable pace and prevents undue delays.
The charge was brought forth by on-field umpires Alex Wharf and Asif Yaqoob, along with third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Rashid Riaz. Their observations led to the official penalty being imposed on the Pakistani team.
Fortunately for the team, captain Shaheen Afridi accepted the proposed sanction without contestation. This meant that a formal hearing was not required, streamlining the process and allowing the team to move forward without further delay.
The match itself was a thrilling encounter, with Pakistan ultimately securing victory against Sri Lanka. However, the slow over-rate incident serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to regulations and maintaining a reasonable pace of play. The team will need to ensure that they improve their over-rate in future matches to avoid further penalties.
Key Takeaways:
- Pakistan fined 20% of match fee for slow over-rate.
- Shaheen Afridi accepted the sanction.
- Match officials flagged the issue.