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Pakistan Penalised Again After Pakistan was found to be one over short in the third ODI against New Zealand in Hamilton, they were fined for continuing to play at a slow over-rate for the third consecutive game.
To cap off a miserable trip of New Zealand, when they lost the ODIs 3-0 and the T20I series 4-1, they were penalised 5% of their match fees. This is the fourth time in the last five ODIs that Pakistan have been guilty of maintaining a slow over-rate. They were also fined 5% of their match fees in the 2025 Champions Trophy opener against New Zealand in Karachi.
Along with third umpire Michael Gough and fourth umpire Wayne Knights, Pakistan captain Muhammad Rizwan entered a guilty plea to the accusation brought forth by on-field umpires Chris Brown and Paul Reiffel.
The match referee, Jeff Crowe, imposed the sanction in accordance with article 2.22 of the ICC code of conduct for players and player support personnel, which deals with minimum over-rate offences. For each over in which a team fails to bowl in the allotted time after time allowances are taken into account, players are fined 5% of their match fee.
Chronic Over-Rate Issues and On-Field Struggles
Pakistan has been under fire from the ICC for their recurrent slow over-rate violations, especially their inability to finish their allotted number of overs in the allotted time across formats. Such persistent violations reveal a larger problem with on-field discipline and focus under duress in addition to inadequate time management.
Delays were exacerbated by their bowlers’ frequent field adjustments and lack of rhythm, which led to them taking longer between overs. One of the main issues raised by pundits during the series has been the lack of urgency on the pitch. Despite the umpires’ repeated reminders during games, the squad did not react well. In order to resolve these concerns before their upcoming series, the coaching staff is anticipated to conduct internal reviews.
Match Recaps and Consequences
They lost the first ODI in Napier by 73 runs after losing the T20I series. They were punished for being two overs short during that game. Pakistan lost the second ODI by 84 runs. New Zealand bowled out the hosts for 208 after scoring 292 for 8 in their opening batting innings. Following this game, they also lost 5% of their match money.
New Zealand scored 264 for 8 in the rain-affected 42-overs-a-side third ODI in Mount Maunganui. Despite a fifty from Babar Azam in the reply, Ben Sears’ five wickets held Pakistan to 221 in 40 overs. During the game, Khushdil Shah and fans got into a fight, which resulted in two fans being kicked out of the stadium.
Disciplinary Challenges Mounting
This trip has also been problematic in terms of off-field discipline, with Khushdil Shah’s role in crowd unrest garnering more criticism. Although the ICC has not yet stated whether additional punishments will be applied in light of the Mount Maunganui incident, such altercations may only heighten the worries of both the team’s supporters and management.
Captaincy Under the Microscope
The strain on Mohammad Rizwan’s leadership is growing as Pakistan struggles to meet basic professional standards on the pitch in addition to finding form with the bat and ball. Former players and observers have criticised the accumulation of penalties and subpar performances, with many urging a strategic change in front of future overseas deployments.
Looking Ahead
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will need to review its game management tactics and squad makeup in light of upcoming significant competitions, such as the final rounds of the 2025 Champions Trophy. If Pakistan is to recover and regain its pride, more discipline, a concentration on mental conditioning, and a clean-up in strategy could be required.
