Bangladesh vs Pakistan (AFP Photo)
Pakistan have suffered a double blow after their historic loss to Bangladesh, with the ICC slapping the team with a hefty fine and gaining crucial points in the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 standings.The ICC on Friday confirmed that Pakistan has been fined 40 percent of the match fee and eight points for maintaining a slow over rate during the opening Test against Bangladesh. After taking time allowance into account, the visitors were found eight overs short of the required target.The ban dealt a major initial blow to Pakistan’s WTC campaign. After the points deduction, they dropped to eighth in the standings with just four points, sitting just above the West Indies.Famous win of Bangladesh scriptThe punishment came just days after Bangladesh thrashed Pakistan by 104 runs in the first Test – their first Test win against Pakistan at home – as the visitors collapsed under pressure on the final day.Fast bowler Naheed Rana was the star of the match, taking a brilliant five-wicket haul to script Bangladesh’s memorable victory and Pakistan facing intense scrutiny.Why did the ICC take action?Under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct, players are fined five percent of their match fee for each over if their team fails to bowl within the allotted time. Since Pakistan were eight overs short, the team had to pay 40 percent of the penalty.The deduction of points came under Article 16.11.2 of the World Test Championship Playing Conditions, which states that teams lose one championship point for each over short.Pakistan captain Shaun Masood accepted the offense and the proposed sentence, meaning a formal hearing was not required.The charge was leveled by umpires Richard Kettleborough and Kumar Dharamsena along with third umpire Allahuddin Palikar and fourth umpire Ghazi Sohail while match referee Jeff Crowe awarded the penalty.
