India docked one WTC point, slapped fine for slow over-rate in Centurion Test

India have been fined 20 per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate against South Africa in the first Test held in Centurion.

Andrew Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after India was one over short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration.

In accordance with 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 20 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.

Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel reads as: “Failure by a fielding team participating in an International Match to meet the Minimum Over Rate requirements contained in Appendix 2 constitutes a “Minimum Over Rate Offence” under this Code of Conduct by each of the Players in that fielding team.”

In addition, as per Article 16.11 of the ICC Men’s World Test Championship Playing Conditions, a side is penalised one point for each over short. Consequently, India will lose one point from their points tally for this offence.

Article 16.11 reads as:

16.11.1 Any team which has been unable to maintain the minimum over rate as defined in 12.9 will incur one Penalty Over for each full over it is short of the minimum over rate requirement.

16.11.2 A team will have one (1) World Test Championship competition point deducted from its points total for each Penalty Over it incurs during the Round Stage

Captain, Virat Kohli pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

Umpires Marais Erasmus, Adrian Holdstock, Allahudien Paleker and Bongani Jele leveled the charge.

India won the opening Test by 113 runs and lead the three-match series 1-0. The team is yet to win a series in South Africa, having started the attempt in 1992. Ever since, the team, under different leaderships, has lost six series and drawn one. Under Virat Kohli, India lost the most recent series (in 2018) 1-2.

The next Test starts from January 3 in Johannesburg.