Overview of the Penalty
In a decisive move, Mohammed Rizwan’s Pakistan team was fined 5% of their match fee for not maintaining the required over-rate during their recent game against New Zealand in Hamilton. The penalty was imposed by the experienced Jeff Crowe from the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, after it was determined that Pakistan was one over short following time allowances.
Details on the ICC Regulation
According to Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct, governing minimum over-rate offenses, a penalty of 5% of the match fees is assessed for each over the team fails to bowl within the allotted time.
Immediate Acceptance of the Charge
Captain Rizwan acknowledged the breach and accepted the penalty prompt, negating the need for a formal hearing. The charge was initially brought by on-field umpires Michael Gough and Wayne Knights, alongside third umpire Paul Reiffel and fourth umpire Chris Brown.
Consecutive Penalties and Match Outcomes
This marks the second straight penalty for Pakistan regarding slow over-rates, following a previous incident in the first ODI held in Napier. Despite these challenges, the team faced a rigorous contest:
- The visiting team was behind 0-1 in the series after the first game.
- In the recent clash, Mitchell Hay played an outstanding inning, scoring a career-best 99* leading New Zealand to set a target of 292/8.
- Ben Sears shined with the ball, achieving personal best figures of 5/59, contributing significantly to Pakistan’s all-out for 208.
- Pakistan showed resilience through Faheem Ashraf and Naseem Shah, who scored 73 and 51 respectively.
Upcoming Fixture
The next challenge awaits both teams at the third ODI scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 5, in Mount Maunganui, which promises to be a strategic showdown.
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Last Updated: April 3, 2025
