Pakistan and Bangladesh penalised for slow over-rates in Rawalpindi Test

Pakistan have been fined 30 per cent of their match fee and penalised six ICC World Test Championship (WTC) points while Bangladesh have been fined 15 per cent of their match fee and penalised three WTC points for maintaining slow over-rates in the first Test in Rawalpindi.

Ranjan Madugalle of the Emirates ICC Panel of Elite Match Referees imposed the sanction after Pakistan were ruled to be six overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration, while Bangladesh were three overs short.

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.

Captains Shan Masood of Pakistan and Najmul Hossain Shanto of Bangladesh pleaded guilty to the offences and accepted the proposed sanctions, so there was no need for formal hearings.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been fined 10 per cent of his match fee for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct in the Rawalpindi Test.

Shakib was found to have breached Article 2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “throwing a ball (or any other item of cricket equipment such as a water bottle) at or near a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other third person in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner during an International Match.”

In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to the disciplinary record of Shakib, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period.

The incident occurred in the 33rd over of Pakistan’s second innings on Sunday, when Shakib threw the ball towards the batter in an inappropriate manner, the ball going over Mohammad Rizwan’s head to the wicketkeeper.

Shakib admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Madugalle, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

On-field umpires Richard Kettleborough and Adrian Holdstock, third umpire Michael Gough and fourth umpire Rashid Riaz levelled the charges.

Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.