Pakistan fined for slow over-rate against Sri Lanka

The Pakistan team has been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate against Sri Lanka during its last Group B fixture in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 in Cardiff on Monday. Chris Broad of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the fine after Sarfraz Ahmed’s side was ruled to be one over short of its target when time allowances were taken into consideration.

In accordance with Article 2.5.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minor over-rate offences, players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount.

As such, Sarfraz has been fined 20 per cent of his match fee, while his players have received 10 per cent fines. Sarfraz pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

What if they commit the same offence again?

If there is a second minor over-rate offence committed by Pakistan during the event with Sarfraz as captain, he will be suspended for one match. The charge was laid by on-field umpires Bruce Oxenford and Marais Erasmus, third umpire Chris Gaffaney and fourth umpire Ian Gould.

Dramatic win for Pakistan

Earlier in the game Sarfraz won the toss and invited Sri Lanka to bat first; they had played two matches against the Lankans in the Champions Trophy and won both times chasing. The Pakistani bowlers had a great day on the field with Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir and Junaid Khan all bowling exceptional spells. They restricted Sri Lanka to a mediocre 236 and one got an impression that it would be a smooth sail for Pakistan to the semi-finals.

But as feared their batters made a game out of it giving away their wickets and it was for the 8th wicket partnership between Amir and Sarfraz worth 75 runs that took them home to a dramatic win. They will now face England in the semi-final at Cardiff on June 14.