Pakistan have been left reeling from an unexpected first-ever Test defeat against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi but 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.
The ICC also imposed a fine of 30 per cent of their match fees on Pakistani players while Bangladeshi cricketers were fined 15 per cent.
Ranjan Madugalle of the Emirates ICC Panel of Elite Match Referees imposed the fine after Pakistan were found to be six overs short of their target after taking into account the time allowance, while Bangladesh were found to be three overs short.
As per Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined five per cent of their match fees for every over their team fails to bowl in the allotted time.
Additionally, as per Article 16.11.2 of the ICC World Test Championship Playing Conditions, a team is penalized one point for every over short.
Pakistan captain Shan Masood and Bangladesh's Nazmul Hossain Shanto admitted the offences and accepted the proposed sanctions, so there was no need for a formal hearing.
The deducted points have pushed Pakistan to the bottom half of the WTC points table. With 16 points from six Test matches and a PCT (percentage of points that decides the standings) of 35, they are currently placed 8th, only above last-placed West Indies. Bangladesh, on the other hand, are one spot higher with a PCT of 35. The table is topped by India, who have 74 points from 9 Test matches and a PCT of 68.52.
Shakib Al Hasan was punished
Meanwhile, Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan was fined 10 per cent of his match fee for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the Rawalpindi Test.
Shakib was found guilty of breaching Article 2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “throwing a ball (or any 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 was added to the disciplinary record of Shakib, for whom this was the first offence in a 24-month period.
The incident took place in the 33rd over of Pakistan's second innings on Sunday when Shakib bowled the ball inappropriately towards the batsman, causing the ball to go 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.
The charges were laid by on-field umpires Richard Kettleborough and Adrian Holdstock, third umpire Michael Gough and fourth umpire Rashid Riaz.
The minimum penalty for a Level 1 breach is an official reprimand, the maximum penalty is 50 percent of the player's match fee and one or two demerit points.