Pakistan’s forgettable 3-0 Test series defeat to England has been followed by another setback, with the team receiving dual sanctions for maintaining a slow over-rate in the final Test at Edgbaston.
Pakistan, who lost the match by eight wickets, have been docked 11 points in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, while their players have been fined 50 per cent of their match fees.
Pakistan bowled 89 overs in their first innings at Edgbaston and were found to be 11 overs short of the required rate after time allowances were taken into consideration.
The WTC sanctions were imposed under Article 16.11.2 of the ICC World Test Championship playing conditions, which penalises a team with one point for every over short. The players were also penalised under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which carries a fine of five per cent of the match fee for every over short.
The player fine is capped at 50 per cent of the match fee, meaning Pakistan’s players received the maximum possible penalty.
The sanctions add to what has been a troubled tour for Pakistan. Seven players were sent home following the second Test at Lord’s, while head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed was also removed from his position. White-ball coach Mike Hesson took charge of the team on an interim basis in Birmingham.
Pakistan were already at the bottom of the WTC points table and now have a points percentage of 4.63 after nine Tests across four series in the current cycle. The latest deduction has effectively ended their already slim hopes of reaching the WTC final.
Pakistan are scheduled to host Sri Lanka for a two-Test series in November before New Zealand tour the country in 2027.
