Pakistan fined for slow over-rate in first Bangladesh Test

MIRPUR, Bangladesh: Pakistan have been fined 40 per cent of their match fee and docked eight ICC World Test Championship points after being found guilty of maintaining a slow over-rate in the first Test against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

The sanction was imposed by Jeff Crowe of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, who ruled that Pakistan were eight overs short of the required target after time allowances were taken into consideration.

In line with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which deals with minimum over-rate offences, players are fined five per cent of their match fee for each over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time. As a result, Pakistan were fined 40 per cent.

Under Article 16.11.2 of the ICC World Test Championship playing conditions, teams are penalised one point per over short, leading to an eight-point deduction from Pakistan’s WTC tally.

Pakistan captain Shan Masood admitted the offence and accepted the sanction, meaning no formal hearing was required.

The charge was laid by on-field umpires Richard Kettleborough and Kumar Dharmasena, third umpire Allahuddien Palekar and fourth umpire Gazi Sohel.

The disciplinary setback came after Bangladesh secured a historic 104-run victory — their first home Test win over Pakistan.

Chasing 268 for victory, Pakistan were well placed at 119/3 before a dramatic collapse saw them bowled out for 163.

Earlier, Bangladesh posted 413 in their first innings, led by captain Najmul Hossain Shanto’s century and a fluent 91 from Mominul Haque.

Pakistan replied with 386, powered by a debut hundred from Azan Awais and contributions from Abdullah Fazal and Mohammad Rizwan.

The result lifted Bangladesh to sixth in the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 standings, while Pakistan slipped to seventh after their second defeat in three matches.