World Cup 2023: Pakistan docked 20 per cent of match fees for slow over rate in South Africa defeat

Things went from bad to worse for Pakistan after their heart-breaking one-wicket defeat against South Africa in the ICC World Cup, with the Babar Azam-led side also docked 20 per cent of their match fees for maintaining a slow over rate.

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According an ICC media release, “Match Referee Richie Richardson 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’s ‘Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel’, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined five percent 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.

Pakistan suffered their fourth consecutive defeat on Friday after failing to defend a score of 270 against the Proteas despite clawing back in spectacular fashion late in the game. The 1992 world champions looked set for a score in excess of 300 after fifties from Babar (50) and Saud Shakeel (54) as well as an attacking 43 from Shadab Khan, only for them to fall well short after a batting collapse in the slog overs.

South Africa were going strong for the most part in their chase thanks to attacking starts from openers Quinton de Kock (24) and Temba Bavuma (27) as well as a solid 91 from Aiden Markram that held the chase together while keeping the required rate under check. Markram’s dismissal though, gave Pakistan a glimmer of hope and they would reduce to South Africa to 260 for 9, on the verge of pulling off a famous victory.

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South Africa’s last-wicket pair of Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi though, held their nerve to see their team over the line and condemn Pakistan to a fourth defeat in six games and that has virtually put them out of contention for a World Cup semi-final berth.

With inputs from PTI