LAHORE: Pakistan’s disastrous run in Test cricket worsened further on Friday after the International Cricket Council (ICC) docked the side eight points in the World Test Championship (WTC) and fined players 40 per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate during the first Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka.
The sanction came on the heels of Pakistan’s 104-run defeat to Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, where the hosts took a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
In a statement, the ICC said Pakistan had been found eight overs short of the required rate after time allowances were taken into consideration.
“Pakistan have been fined 40 per cent of their match fee and penalised eight ICC World Test Championship points for maintaining a slow over-rate against Bangladesh in the first Test at Mirpur in Dhaka,” the governing body said.
The penalty has reduced Pakistan’s tally in the 2025-27 WTC cycle from 12 points to four, leaving them seventh among the nine participating teams.
Pakistan have so far played three Tests in the current championship, winning only one — against South Africa — while suffering defeats against both South Africa and Bangladesh.
According to Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct, players are fined five per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time. In addition, Article 16.11.2 of the WTC playing conditions stipulates a deduction of one championship point for each over short.
ICC match referee Jeff Crowe imposed the sanction, while Pakistan captain Shan Masood pleaded guilty and accepted the punishment.
The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Richard Kettleborough and Kumar Dharmasena along with third umpire Allahuddien Paleker and fourth umpire Gazi Sohel.
Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2026
