DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday, penalised Pakistan for maintaining a slow over-rate in the recently-concluded Perth Test against Australia.
Consequently, Pakistan have been fined 10 per cent of their match fee and penalised two ICC World Test Championship (WTC).
Match Referee Javagal Srinath imposed the sanction after Pakistan were found to be two overs short of the target despite considering time allowances.
In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined five per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.
In addition, as per Article 16.11.2 of the ICC World Test Championship playing conditions, a side is penalised one point for each over short. Consequently, two WTC points have been deducted from Pakistan’s points total.
Pakistan captain Shan Masood pled guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.
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On-field umpires Joel Wilson and Richard Illingworth, third umpire Michael Gough and fourth umpire Donovan Koch levelled the charge.
Notably, Pakistan were on top of the WTC standings with a perfect record, however, a hammering 360-run defeat against Australia and a two-point penalty saw them slipping to the second spot with a winning rate of 61.11.
Two-time runners-up India benefitted from Pakistan’s demotion and reached the summit with a winning percentage of 66.67.
Australia are currently leading the Test series 1-0 after thumping Pakistan by a huge margin of 360 runs in the first Test match at Perth Stadium.
Australian bowlers bowled the Pakistan team for a meagre 89 runs in the second innings after setting a mammoth target of 450 runs to register a dominant victory.
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