Cape Town [South Africa]: Following their 0-2 loss in the two-match Test series against South Africa, the Pakistan cricket team has been penalized for a slow over-rate in the second Test at Newlands in Cape Town.
Pakistan has been fined 25% of their match fee and has had five World Test Championship (WTC) points deducted after being ruled five overs short of the required mark, taking time allowances into account.
These penalties were imposed after Pakistan’s heavy 10-wicket defeat to South Africa in the second Test.
The sanctions were applied under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which addresses minimum over-rate offences. The rule stipulates a fine of 5% of the match fee for each over a team fails to bowl in the allotted time.
The deduction of five WTC points was made according to Article 16.11.2 of the ICC World Test Championship playing conditions, which penalizes a team one point for each over they fall short.
The penalties were imposed by the on-field umpires, Kumar Dharmasena and Nitin Menon, along with third umpire Alex Wharf and fourth umpire Stephen Harris. Richie Richardson, the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, sanctioned the penalties.
Pakistan’s captain, Shan Masood, accepted the charges and pleaded guilty to the offence.
In the final Test, Pakistan started Day 4 trailing by 208 runs, with nine wickets in hand. Although Masood fought valiantly with the middle order, South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj took key wickets to bowl out Pakistan for 478, leaving the Proteas with a target of just 58.
South Africa achieved the target in just 43 balls, with opener David Bedingham blasting an unbeaten 44 off 30 balls. Ryan Rickelton was named Player of the Match for his superb double century, which helped South Africa set a massive first-innings total of 615. In contrast, Pakistan was bowled out for just 194 in their first innings and was forced to follow on.