Pakistan fined for slow over rate again

KARACHI: As if their 0-2 whitewash against New Zealand was not enough, Pakistan received another blow on Tuesday when they were fined for a slow over rate during the second and final Test in Hamilton.

New Zealand won the Hamilton Test by 130 runs to sweep the series, a result that pushed Pakistan down from number two to number in the Test rankings.

Soon after the conclusion of the final Test, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that Pakistan fell short of the targeted over rate in Hamilton by five overs, resulting in stand-in captain Azhar Ali being fined 100% of his match fee, and the rest of the team 50% of their fees each.

As per the ICC’s rules, players are fined 10% of their fee per unbowled over, with the captain fined double that.

The charge was laid by the four officiating umpires and the penalty arrived upon by the match referee, Richie Richardson. Azhar Ali accepted the ruling, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

Pakistan had been found to be short of the required over rate after the first Test as well, and full-time captain Misbah-ul-Haq was handed a one-match ban, given it was his second minor over-rate offence in the same format in a period of 12 months; as per the rules two offences in 12 months equate to fines and a suspension from the immediately subsequent match in the same format.