Big blow for Pakistan ICC deducts six WTC points
Pakistan lost six World Test Championship points and 30 per cent of their match fees due to slow over rate while Bangladesh lost three World Test Championship points and 15 per cent of their match fees.
Pakistan, who suffered a big blow after their unexpected first-ever Test loss to Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, have now lost six World Test Championship (WTC) points.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) penalised the Shan Masood-led side for slow over rate in the series opener. Their opponents Bangladesh also registered a historic 10-wicket win but lost three WTC points for the same offence.
Ranjan Madugalle of the Emirates ICC Panel of Elite Match Referees imposed the fine as Pakistan were found guilty of bowling six overs short of the target while Bangladesh bowled three overs short, keeping in mind the time limit. As per Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which deals with minimum over-rate offences, players are fined five per cent of their match fees for every over they fail to bowl in the stipulated time.
As per Article 16.11.2 of the ICC World Test Championship Playing Conditions
Furthermore, as per Article 16.11.2 of the ICC World Test Championship Playing Conditions, a team is fined one point for every over bowled short. Pakistan captain Shan Masood and Bangladesh’s Nazmul Hossain Shanto admitted the offence and accepted the proposed sanctions, so there was no need for a formal hearing.
The deducted points leave Pakistan at the bottom of the WTC points table. With 16 points from six Tests and a PCT (percentage of points that decides rankings) of 35, they are currently placed 8th, only just above last-placed West Indies. Bangladesh, on the other hand, are one place higher with a PCT of 35. India top the table, with 74 points from 9 Tests and a PCT of 68.52.
Shakib Al Hasan penalised
Meanwhile, Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was 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 towards a player, player support personnel, umpire, match referee or any other third person in an improper and/or dangerous manner during an International Match”.
In addition, one demerit point was added to the disciplinary record of Shakib, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period. The incident happened in the 33rd over of Pakistan’s second innings on Sunday, when Shakib bowled an inappropriate delivery towards the batsman, with the ball going over Mohammad Rizwan’s head to the wicketkeeper.
Accepted sanction proposed by Madugalle
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. The minimum penalty for a Level 1 breach is an official reprimand, the maximum penalty is 50 per cent of a player’s match fee and one or two demerit points. As per Article 16.11.2 of the ICC World Test Championship playing conditions, a team is penalised one point for every over short.
Pakistan captain Shan Masood and Bangladesh’s Nazmul Hossain Shanto admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed, so there was no need for a formal hearing. 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.
Improper throw at or near a third person
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 improper and/or dangerous manner during an International Match”.
In addition, 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 batsman in an improper manner, with 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.
Conclusion
Pakistan have been fined 30 per cent of their match fees and deducted six ICC World Test Championship (WTC) points while Bangladesh have been fined 15 per cent of their match fees and deducted three WTC points for slow over-rate in the first Test in Rawalpindi.
Ranjan Madugalle of the Emirates ICC Panel of Elite Match Referees imposed the fines as Pakistan were found to have bowled six overs short of the target after taking into account the time concessions while Bangladesh were found to have bowled three overs short.
