Pakistan’s woes in the World Test Championship deepened after the ICC docked the side eight points and fined players 40 percent of their match fees for maintaining a slow over-rate during the opening Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka.
The punishment came days after Pakistan suffered a crushing 104-run defeat against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. Already under pressure following the loss, Pakistan were dealt another setback when the ICC confirmed they had fallen eight overs short of the required rate after time allowances were taken into account.
“Pakistan have been fined 40 per cent of their match fee and lost eight ICC World Test Championship points for a slow over rate,” the ICC said in a statement.
“The offence came in the first Test against Bangladesh at Mirpur in Dhaka, after the side finished eight overs short.”
The ICC further confirmed that match referee Jeff Crowe imposed the sanctions after Pakistan captain Shan Masood admitted to the offence.
“An ICC statement confirmed that match referee Jeff Crowe adjudged the Pakistan team to be a whopping eight overs short in their quotas across the spread of the match; Pakistan captain Shan Masood proceeded to plead guilty against the charges, removing the necessity for any sort of hearing.”
Under ICC regulations, teams lose five per cent of their match fee and one World Test Championship point for every over short. Pakistan’s eight-over deficit therefore, resulted in a 40 per cent fine and an eight-point deduction.
“The 40% and eight-point deduction follows stipulations provided in the ICC and WTC playing conditions that state teams will lose 5% of their match fee plus one point in the WTC points table for every over of delay.”
The penalty has severely hurt Pakistan’s standing in the WTC table. Pakistan had collected 12 points from one win and two defeats in the cycle before the sanction. The deduction now leaves them with just four points and a points percentage of 11.11, pushing them down to ninth place alongside the West Indies.
The defeat in Dhaka had already exposed Pakistan’s batting frailties. Chasing survival on the fifth day, Pakistan collapsed from 119 for 3 to 168 all out as Bangladesh’s bowlers capitalised on a worn Mirpur pitch.
“The match in Dhaka itself was a bitter disappointment as Pakistan collapsed from 119/3 to 168 all-out in the final innings, not able to hold on for a draw against a Bangladesh team making perfect use of a tired fifth-day pitch in Mirpur.”
Bangladesh’s attack was led by fast bowler Nahid Rana, whose spell triggered Pakistan’s dramatic collapse either side of the tea break.
The latest deduction leaves Pakistan far behind the leading teams in the WTC standings. Australia currently lead the table with 87.5 per cent, followed by New Zealand at 77.8 percent, while South Africa have also strengthened their position after upsetting India.
This is only the second point deduction in the current WTC cycle and is significantly heavier than the two-point penalty handed to England during the Lord’s Test against India last year.
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