Dubai, In a recent development from the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, Pakistan’s cricket team faced a fine, amounting to 20 per cent of their match fee, for maintaining a slow over-rate in their league match against South Africa on Friday.

According to a news release by the International Cricket Council (ICC), Richie Richardson, a member of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, imposed the penalty. After accounting for time allowances, it was determined that Babar Azam’s team was four overs behind the target.

The sanction is in line with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel. This code specifies that players will be fined five per cent of their match fee for every over they fail to bowl within the designated time frame.

Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, acknowledged the offence and agreed to the stipulated sanction, rendering a formal hearing unnecessary.

The charge against Pakistan was brought by on-field umpires Alex Wharf and Paul Reiffel, with Richard Illingworth serving as the third umpire and Richard Kettleborough as the fourth.