The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday fined Pakistan for maintaining a slow over rate during the World Cup fixture against New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, India.
The Green Shirts were fined 10% of their match fee by the international cricket body.
A day earlier, Pakistan were declared winners in the crucial game against Kiwis in the World Cup 2023 on Saturday, as the match was called off due to persistent rain.
The penalty was imposed by Match Referee Richie Richardson as the Green Shirts were found to be two overs short during the first innings, ICC said in a press release.
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 5% of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.
Pakistan’s skipper Babar Azam accepted the match fine imposed by the ICC, ending the need for a formal hearing.
The match referees Paul Wilson and Richard Kettleborough, third umpire Richard Illingworth, and fourth umpire Joel Wilson levelled the charge.
It must be noted that Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 21 runs (DLS method) in a must-win match that was consistently interrupted by rain and was eventually called off.
The match was stopped due to rain while the Green Shirts were batting at 200-1 in 25.3 overs with Fakhar Zaman (126*) and skipper Babar Azam (66*) still on the crease.
Courtesy of a blistering batting display by Fakhar, Pakistan were 21 runs ahead on the DLS score after 25.3 overs and emerged victorious.
The 194-run partnership between Azam and Fakhar propelled the Green Shirts to an essential win as they now prepare to take on the struggling England team at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on November 11.
Batting first, the Black Caps posted 401-6, the second-highest total of the ongoing competition on the back of Rachin Ravindra (108), Kane Williamson (95) and Glenn Phillips (41).
Mark Chapman (39), Daryl Mitchell (29) and Mitchell Santner (26) made valuable contributions.
New Zealand will now play an all-important match against Sri Lanka on November 9 at the same venue as today and if the Black Caps emerge victorious there, things could get pretty difficult for the Azam-led unit.