ICC Slaps Pakistan With Fine After Loss To South Africa In World Cup

Seems like nothing is working for the Pakistan cricket team as they have been sanctioned by ICC after their game against South Africa. Babar Azam and co lost the game on Saturday by 1 wicket as they failed to defend the target of 271 for the Proteas. Pakistan have been fined by ICC for slow over rate.

"Pakistan's faltering ICC Men's Cricket World Cup campaign has received a further blow with the team sanctioned for a slow over rate during their recent match against South Africa," wrote the official website of ICC. (Cricket World Cup 2023: Rachin Ravindra Equals Special Record Of Sachin Tendulkar With Ton Against Australia)

Another blow for Pakistan as they try to stay in the race for the #WC23 semi-finals 

Details  https://t.co/uG0QB13aBD pic.twitter.com/4i45bbCYYW

— ICC (@ICC) October 28, 2023

Pakistan were found to be four overs short during South Africa's batting innings in Chennai and were handed a penalty of 20 percent of their match fee, informed the ICC official site.

Richie Richardson of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after Babar Azam's side was ruled to be four overs 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 five per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.

Babar pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing. On-field umpires Alex Wharf and Paul Reiffel, third umpire Richard Illingworth and fourth umpire Richard Kettleborough levelled the charge.

Coming to the match, Pakistan was bundled out for 270 in 46.4 overs, with knocks from skipper Babar Azam (50), Saud Shakeel (53) and Shadab Khan (43) being crucial. Tabraiz Shamsi (4/60) and Marco Jansen (3/43) were the top bowlers for SA.

In a close chase of 271, SA kept losing wickets at regular intervals but knock from Aiden Markram (91) proved to be more than enough to help the team achieve a memorable win.