Pakistan fined, docked 11 points in Edgbaston Test for slow over rate

SaveSharefacebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylinkThe deduction leaves Pakistan rooted to the bottom of the World Test Championship standings with five points in nine matches [File: AFP]By ReutersPublished On 14 Sep 202614 Sep 2026Pakistan were deducted 11 points in the World Test Championship and their players docked 50 percent of their match fees due to a slow over rate during last week’s Test match against England in Birmingham, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has said.The visitors were 11 overs short of their target as England won the match by eight wickets to sweep the series 3-0, the ICC said in a statement on Monday.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Cricketers to get best rooms at Asian Games 2026, says Japanese officiallist 2 of 4Cricket turns political again as India do not accept Asia Cup trophylist 3 of 4Pakistan captain Fatima Sana fined over Shafali Verma gesture in Asia Cuplist 4 of 4Pakistan U19 cricketers mistaken for asylum seekers by protesters in UKend of listThe sanction was imposed by Ranjan Madugalle of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees after on-field umpires Paul Reiffel and Chris Gaffaney, third umpire Allahudien Palekar and fourth umpire Russell Warren levelled the charge.The deduction leaves Pakistan rooted to the bottom of the standings with five points in nine matches.Australia, who have won eight of their 10 Tests in the current cycle, lead the table with defending champions South Africa second.The top two teams meet in the final at the Oval in London in June 2027.Pakistan’s next Tests are against Sri Lanka in a two-match home series in November.Turmoil for PakistanIt was England’s first Test series win since 2024, while Pakistan have now lost 16 of their last 21 games.Root’s men had appeared set for a quickfire win in three days on Friday before debutant fast bowler Razaullah launched an audacious assault with the bat, clubbing nine sixes as he raced to 81 off 63 balls.The 21-year-old number nine, who also took four wickets in England’s first innings, put on 121 for the ninth wicket with fellow paceman Abbas (42) as England floundered.Razaullah’s heroics changed the mood music, but they came too little, too late for Pakistan, who endured a miserable series, losing the first Test by an innings and 103 runs and the second by 194 runs.The tourists sent seven players home after their crushing defeat in the second Test at Lord’s and brought in seven replacements, with Razaullah among them.They also sacked head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and assistant Umar Gul as their tour descended into chaos.Pakistan made four changes to their side for the third Test, and they put up a fight despite being dismissed for a paltry 133 in their first innings.Captain Babar Azam admitted his team would have to take stock after a one-sided series.“We had a couple of changes after losing two matches. Playing in England is very difficult. We were trying to do our best in the third match,” he said.“We need to sit down and look hard at our mistakes, decide our playing XI.”