Pakistan cricket squad is fighting a series of woes, following a disappointing whitewash of the latest three-match ODI series against New Zealand. To make matters worse, International Cricket Council (ICC) also added to their woes by issuing a fine of 5% of their match fee for slow over-rate during the third ODI in Mount Maunganui.
This is the third straight case in which Pakistan has been sanctioned for failing to maintain the stipulated over-rate. The penalty was imposed by ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees member Jeff Crowe, indicating lingering suspicions regarding the team’s performance.
In their final ODI against the Blackcaps, Pakistan was short by just one over of the target, even with time allowance. As per the ICC Code of Conduct, a team is fined 5% of their match fee for each over not bowled during the respective time limit.
Captain Mohammad Rizwan led the charge, which was taken by field umpires Chris Brown and Paul Reiffel, and third umpire Michael Gough and fourth umpire Wayne Knights were also a part of it.
Throughout the series, Pakistan played eight white-ball games—five T20Is and three ODIs—and managed to achieve just one victory in the T20I format. The team lost the five-match T20I series 1-4 and then suffered a 0-3 defeat in the ODIs.
Surprisingly, senior player Babar Azam and Rizwan did not find a place in the T20I squad but were brought back for the ODIs. Rizwan mentioned more professionalism within the side following the final ODI loss.
“If you look at the matches we played, we remained competitive till the first 40 overs but lost the hold in the later stage,” Rizwan said. He hoped the entire team as well as the management would toil to keep the same pace till the 50th over, which they maintained in the initial phase of their innings.”.
