August 26, 2024

Pakistan and Bangladesh Hit with Penalties for Slow Over-Rates in Rawalpindi Test

The World Test Championship (WTC) standings have tightened with the latest sanctions affecting Pakistan and Bangladesh. Pakistan, currently at the bottom of the table, lost six points, while Bangladesh dropped from sixth to seventh place after both teams were penalized for slow over-rates in their Rawalpindi Test.

Match referee Ranjan Madugalle determined that Pakistan fell six overs short of the required rate, while Bangladesh was three overs short. Both teams also faced fines: Pakistan’s players were fined 30% of their match fees, and Bangladesh’s players were fined 15%.

According to ICC rules, teams are fined 5% of their match fee for every over short and lose one WTC point per over short.

Pakistan, in their first Test at home with an all-pace attack for the first time in 28 years, lost by ten wickets. This bowling strategy might have contributed to their slow over-rate. Meanwhile, Bangladesh used two frontline spinners in their attack.

Following the sanctions, the revised World Test Championship (WTC) table shows Pakistan slipping from 22 points to 16, moving from second-last to the bottom spot, just ahead of the West Indies. They now have an 8th place position with 22.22 percentage points. Bangladesh, who briefly climbed to sixth place after a recent win, dropped to seventh after losing three points, now holding 21 points and 35 percentage points.

Both captains, Shan Masood and Najmul Hossain Shanto, admitted to the slow over-rate violations and accepted the penalties.

Shakib Fined and Given Demerit Point for Throwing Ball at Rizwan

Bangladesh all rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been fined 10% of his match fee and given one demerit point for a Level 1 breach of the ICC code of conduct during the Rawalpindi Test against Pakistan.

The breach occurred on the fifth day of the Test when Shakib, after running up to bowl, noticed that batter Mohammad Rizwan was not ready. Rizwan was facing away from Shakib, speaking to Bangladesh wicketkeeper Litton Das. When Rizwan turned back, Shakib threw the ball towards Litton, arcing it over Rizwan’s head. Umpire Richard Kettleborough reprimanded Shakib on the field for the incident.

Match referee Ranjan Madugalle ruled that Shakib had breached Article 2.9 of the ICC code of conduct, which relates to “throwing a ball (or any other item of cricket equipment such as a water bottle) at or near a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other third person in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner during an International Match.”

Shakib Al Hasan admitted to the offense and accepted the proposed sanction from match referee Ranjan Madugalle, so no formal hearing was necessary. The charges were brought by on-field umpires Richard Kettleborough and Adrian Holdstock, as well as third umpire Michael Gough and fourth umpire Rashid Riaz.

This is Shakib’s first demerit point in the past 24 months. Players who accumulate four or more demerit points within a 24-month period will have them converted into suspension points. Suspension points could lead to a ban from international matches, with each ODI or T20I contributing one suspension point, and each Test match contributing two.

Shakib played a crucial role in Bangladesh’s victory at Rawalpindi, taking 3 for 44 in Pakistan’s second innings. However, his participation in the series is overshadowed by legal issues. He is one of 147 people charged in a murder case in Dhaka linked to recent student protests that led to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government. Shakib was previously a Member of Parliament for the Awami League party, which was led by Hasina.