Bangladesh vs Pakistan (AFP Photo)
Pakistan have suffered a double blow after their historic defeat to Bangladesh, with the ICC slapping the side with a hefty fine and docking crucial points in the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 standings.The ICC on Friday confirmed that Pakistan had been fined 40 per cent of their match fee and penalised eight points for maintaining a slow over-rate during the opening Test against Bangladesh. The visitors were found to be eight overs short of the required target after time allowances were taken into account.The sanction dealt a major early setback to Pakistan’s WTC campaign. After the points deduction, they slipped to eighth place in the standings with just four points, sitting only above West Indies.Bangladesh script famous winThe punishment came just days after Bangladesh stunned Pakistan by 104 runs in the first Test — their first-ever Test win over Pakistan at home — as the visitors collapsed under pressure on the final day.Fast bowler Nahid Rana was the star of the match, producing a brilliant five-wicket haul to script Bangladesh’s memorable victory and leave Pakistan facing intense scrutiny.Why ICC took actionUnder Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct, players are fined five per cent of their match fee for every over if their team fails to bowl in the allotted time. Since Pakistan were eight overs short, the team incurred the 40 per cent penalty.The points deduction came under Article 16.11.2 of the World Test Championship playing conditions, which states that teams lose one championship point for every over short.Pakistan captain Shan Masood accepted the offence and the proposed sanction, meaning there was no need for a formal hearing.The charge was levelled by umpires Richard Kettleborough and Kumar Dharmasena, along with third umpire Allahuddien Palekar and fourth umpire Gazi Sohel, while match referee Jeff Crowe imposed the punishment.
Do you think the fine imposed on Pakistan for slow over-rate was justified?
