In the first Test match between Pakistan and Australia in Perth, Pakistan faced consequences for their slow over-rate, which refers to the pace at which they bowled their overs during the match.
The team was penalized with a 10% fine of their match fee, and two ICC World Test Championship points were deducted from their overall standing. This deduction occurred as a result of Pakistan failing to meet the required over-rate, indicating that they took more time than allowed to complete their bowling quota.
The rules governing over-rates are outlined in Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct. According to this article, players are fined 5% of their match fee for each over their team bowls beyond the specified time limit.
Additionally, Article 16.11.2 of the ICC World Test Championship playing conditions stipulates that a team loses one point for each over they fall short.
As a consequence of being two overs short, Pakistan incurred the penalty of losing two World Test Championship points. This deduction impacted their standing on the WTC25 standings, reducing their percentage points from 66.67 to 61.11. The WTC25 is a ranking system that determines teams’ positions in the ICC World Test Championship.
The penalties were imposed by the Emirates ICC Elite Panel Match Referee Javagal Srinath, who considered time allowances in making this decision.
The charges were brought forward by on-field umpires Joel Wilson and Richard Illingworth, third umpire Michael Gough, and fourth umpire Donovan Koch. In response, Pakistan’s captain, Shan Masood, pleaded guilty to the offense, acknowledging and accepting the imposed sanctions.
This incident highlights the importance of teams adhering to the specified over-rates in international cricket and the consequences they face if they fall short of these standards.
