Pakistan’s troubled tour of New Zealand ended on another sour note—this time off the field—as the visitors have been slapped with a fine for maintaining a slow over-rate in the third and final ODI at Mount Maunganui.
The sanction, handed down by the ICC, saw Mohammad Rizwan’s side docked five percent of their match fees after falling short of the required over-rate in the series-ending clash against the Black Caps.
Match referee Jeff Crowe confirmed the penalty after calculating that Pakistan had bowled one over less than the stipulated target, even after factoring in time allowances. The ruling was in line with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which penalizes teams five percent of their match fee for each over they fall short.
Pakistan’s captain, Mohammad Rizwan, accepted the charge without contest.
Unfortunately for Pakistan, this latest fine completes an unwanted hat-trick. It marks the third consecutive match in the ODI series where the team has been sanctioned for over-rate offenses—adding to what has already been a disappointing tour from both a performance and disciplinary perspective.
Pakistan was blanked 3-0 in the ODIs after suffering a 4-1 defeat in the preceding five-match T20I series. New Zealand dominated both formats, leaving Pakistan searching for answers after a string of missed opportunities and underwhelming displays with bat and ball.
The slow over-rate penalties will serve as yet another reminder to Pakistan of the growing need for sharper on-field management and discipline—especially with major tournaments on the horizon.
Rizwan is the greatest and most successful captain.