SHARJAH, April 12: Pakistan have been fined 20 per cent of their matches fees for slow over-rates in their first two games in the three-nation Sharjah Cup here, officials said on Friday.

International Cricket Council match referee Gundappa Vishwanath of India handed down the fines after watching the pace-dominated Pakistani attack take their time to bowl their overs.

According to ICC rules, teams should bowl their stipulated quota of 50 overs in the available three-and-a-half hours for an innings in one-day internationals.

Pakistan fell short by one over in their first match against Sri Lanka on Monday and were three overs short against New Zealand on Thursday.

Vishwanath deducted five percent from each player’s match fees for every over not completed in time, thereby making it 20 percent in the two matches so far.

Pakistan have a graded system of payments ranging from $1,000 a match for seniors like Wasim Akram and captain Waqar Younis to $600 for the younger players.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has to deposit the fines directly with the ICC headquarters in London.

Fast bowlers take more time than spinners to bowl their overs and, besides Waqar and Akram, Pakistan have two other pacers in Shoaib Akhtar and Abdul Razzaq.

Both New Zealand and Sri Lanka have not had problems with their over-rates.—AFP