Pakistan Test cricket team have been hit with serious sanctions in the wake of their slow over-rate in the third and final Test match against England in Birmingham at the ICC World Test Championship.
After taking time allowances into consideration in the Edgbaston Test, it was found that the visiting team Pakistan had bowled 11 overs less than what was required. England swept the series 3-0 with a resounding victory in the match.
Over-rate offence means Pakistan were fined 50 per cent of their match fee and also that their 11 points were deducted from their World Test Championship points total.
These penalties were awarded by the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees member Ranjan Madugalle. He awarded the penalties after Pakistan was charged by the on-field umpires.
On-field umpires Paul Reiffel and Chris Gaffaney, plus third umpire Allahudien Palekar and fourth umpire Russell Warren levelled the charge against the team.
The punishment, however, has further hurt Pakistan’s rankings in the World Test Championship table. The side continues to sit in 9th place at the table with a points percentage of 4.63.
Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel allows teams to be penalised for below minimum over-rate. Players will get a fine of five per cent of the match fee for every over they miss the target.
However, the maximum monetary fines are limited to 50% of a player’s match fee.
There is also a World Test Championship penalty faced by Pakistan due to the slow-over rate. A team is penalised by losing one championship point for every over it does not bowl within the given time.
Pakistan’s World Test Championship record was hit by 11 points deduction after they were not able to bowl 11 overs in the given time.
Now Pakistan will have to look towards the future to get a better result when they come back into Test action in November. They will host Sri Lanka in a two-match series in Rawalpindi and Lahore in their next World Test Championship series.