Pakistan have been hit with a significant penalty after being found guilty of maintaining a slow over-rate during the third Test against England in Birmingham.
The Pakistan team fell 11 overs short of the required rate after time allowances were taken into account. England won the match by eight wickets at Edgbaston. The result also completed a 3-0 series sweep for the hosts.
Pakistan Lose 11 WTC Points
As a result of the slow over-rate, Pakistan players have been fined 50 per cent of their match fees. The team has also lost 11 points from its ICC World Test Championship (WTC) tally.
Ranjan Madugalle of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees confirmed the sanction. The charges were brought by on-field umpires Paul Reiffel and Chris Gaffaney. Third umpire Allahudien Palekar and fourth umpire Russell Warren were also involved in the assessment.
Under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct, players face a five per cent fine for every over their team fails to complete within the required time. However, the total fine cannot exceed 50 per cent of a player’s match fee.
WTC Points Deducted for Every Over
The impact on Pakistan’s championship campaign is also significant. Under Article 16.11.2 of the WTC playing conditions, teams lose one championship point for every over they fall behind the required rate.
Therefore, Pakistan have lost all 11 points linked to their over-rate offence in the Edgbaston Test.
The deduction leaves Pakistan ninth in the World Test Championship standings, with a points percentage of just 4.63. The penalty comes after a disappointing Test series in England, where Pakistan failed to win any of the three matches.
Pakistan Face Sri Lanka Next
Pakistan will now have to put the England series behind them and focus on their next WTC assignment.
The team is scheduled to host Sri Lanka for a two-Test series in November. The matches are expected to be played in Rawalpindi and Lahore.
The series will give Pakistan an opportunity to rebuild their WTC campaign. However, the 11-point deduction makes their path up the standings considerably more difficult.
For Pakistan, the latest penalty is another setback after a series in which England dominated the visitors. Avoiding further over-rate offences will also be important as the team looks to recover in the remaining WTC cycle.
