ICC fines Pakistan for shocking reason after ODI Tri-Series final against Sri Lanka

Pakistan celebrated a memorable victory over Sri Lanka in the final of the 2026 ODI Tri-Nation Series to lift the trophy. The tournament also featured England, but the final in Lahore became a special occasion for the hosts as they completed a remarkable run chase to win the title. Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by three wickets to secure the trophy.

However, the victory was followed by disciplinary action from the International Cricket Council (ICC). Pakistan have been fined five per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate during the final. The team failed to complete its overs within the required time during the match at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on October 31.

Pakistan captain Shaheen Afridi pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction from the ICC. Despite the fine, the victory remains an important achievement for Pakistan, as they won their second ODI tri-series title after their first triumph in 2008. They had finished runners-up after losing to New Zealand in the 2025 final.

ICC fines Pakistan after Tri-Series final vs Sri Lanka: What happened

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has fined Pakistan players five per cent of their match fees for maintaining a slow over-rate in the ODI Tri-Series final against Sri Lanka. The team was found to be one over behind the required rate while bowling. The penalty was imposed under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct.

According to the ICC rules, players are fined 5% of their match fees for every over their team fails to bowl within the allotted time. Since Pakistan were one over short, the players received a five per cent fine. Match referee Jeff Crowe of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel confirmed the offence after considering the time allowances.

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Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi accepted the offence and the proposed penalty. On-field umpires Ahsan Raza and Wayne Knights, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Rashid Riaz had levelled the charge against the team. As Afridi pleaded guilty, there was no need for a formal hearing.

Why Pakistan were fined: Key details from the ICC statement

Pakistan were penalised under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which deals with minimum over-rate offences in international matches. According to the rule, players are fined five per cent of their match fees for every over their team fails to bowl within the allotted time. The ICC explained the penalty in its statement, saying, “Their breach was in accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences. Players are fined five per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.”

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Talking about the match, Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by three wickets to win the 2026 ODI Tri-Series final at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Chasing a target of 326 runs, Pakistan scored 331/7 in 48.3 overs and secured the victory with nine balls to spare. Sri Lanka had posted a strong total of 325 runs after being asked to bat first, with Kamindu Mendis scoring an impressive 131 off 128 balls and Pavan Rathnayake providing valuable support.

Pakistan's chase got off to a difficult start as they lost two early wickets for just 14 runs, including Babar Azam. However, Fakhar Zaman kept the team in the contest with an excellent innings. He scored 127 runs off 99 balls to register his 12th ODI century and played a key role in Pakistan's successful chase.

Impact on Pakistan and what happens next

The five per cent fine means Pakistan players will face a small deduction from their match fees following the slow over-rate offence. However, the penalty does not affect their ODI Tri-Series title victory. Pakistan have completed the tournament with a trophy after defeating Sri Lanka in the final.

Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi accepted the charge and the proposed sanction, bringing the matter to a close without a formal hearing. The team will now need to be more careful about maintaining the required over-rate in future international matches to avoid similar penalties.

The victory will give Pakistan confidence after their successful campaign in the tri-series. However, the team will also look to improve its bowling discipline and manage its time better during matches. The ICC will continue to monitor over-rate violations in upcoming international fixtures.