WWC 2017: Pakistan guilty of slow over-rate against England

The Pakistan Women’s team has been found guilty of maintaining a slow over-rate during their ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 match against England in Leicester on Tuesday. Pakistan, who invited the home side to bat first ended up conceding a huge total of 377/7 in the 50 overs. It is the 2nd highest for any team in the Women’s World Cup behind Australia’s 412/3 against Denmark way back in 1997. Pakistan bowlers needed more than the allotted time after the game was delayed by half an hour due to rain.

Pakistan bowlers needed more than the allotted time after the game was delayed by half an hour due to rain. Match referee Richie Richardson of West Indies, who is a part of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the sanction after Sana Mir’s side was ruled to be one over short of its target duration even after the time allowances during the England inning were taken into consideration.

The charge had been laid by on-field umpires New Zealand’s Chris Brown, West Indies’ Jacqueline Williams and the reserve umpire Sharfuddola Saikat of Bangladesh. Pakistan eventually lost the match as they scored 107/3 in the 29.2 overs of play before it started to rain and didn’t allow any further play.

According to the Duck-worth Lewis Stern method, Pakistan had to score 215 for the loss of three wickets in 29.2 overs to win. As a result, England bagged their first win in the tournament with a 107-run win as per D/L method. Earlier England had lost their first game against India while Pakistan now have lost both their game as they earlier went down in a close encounter vs South Africa.

As per Appendix 3 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, there is no financial penalty for the Pakistani players, however, if they commit a second minor over-rate offence during the event with Sana as the captain, then she will be suspended for one match. Pakistan will be next facing India in the tournament on July 2nd at the Derby County Ground.