Pakistan have been handed a significant double punishment after failing to maintain the required over-rate during the first Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka.
Match Referee Jeff Crowe of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel imposed the sanctions after Pakistan were found to be eight overs short of the target, even after all time allowances were taken into account.
Under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which covers minimum over-rate offences, players are fined five percent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time. As a result, the entire Pakistan squad has been fined 40 percent of their match fee.
On top of the financial penalty, Pakistan have also been docked eight World Test Championship points — one point for each over they fell short — in accordance with Article 16.11.2 of the ICC World Test Championship playing conditions. The deduction is a serious blow to Pakistan’s WTC campaign, where every point counts toward qualification.
Pakistan captain Shan Masood accepted full responsibility for the offence and pleaded guilty to the charge, agreeing to the proposed sanction without requesting a formal hearing.
The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Richard Kettleborough and Kumar Dharmasena, third umpire Allahuddien Palekar and fourth umpire Gazi Sohel.
