Big blow as Pakistan penalized after 3rd Test vs England at Edgbaston

Pakistan have been fined 50% of their match fee and penalized 11 points in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) race for maintaining a slow over-rate against England during the third Test match at Edgbaston in Birmingham. The tourists ended the three-match series by a 0-3 margin.  

The Babar Azam-led side lost the opening Test of the series at Leeds in Headingley by an innings and 103 runs inside just three days while the second encounter of the series ended in the same manner for the visitors at Lord’s. They lost the contest by 194 runs before showing a strong fight during the third game at Edgbaston. 

Pakistan fined 50% match fee and lose 11 points for slow over-rate

Ranjan Madugalle of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of the Match Referees imposed the sanction after the visitors were ruled to be a total of 11 overs short of the target after the time allowances were taken into the calculation.

In accordance or the Article 2/22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for the Player Support Personnel, which relates to the over-rate offences, the players are fined 5% of their match fee for each over their team failed to bowl within the time, with the maximum penalty being capped at 50% of the match fee.

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“In addition, as per Article 16.11.2 of the ICC World Test Championship playing conditions, a side is penalised one point for each over short. Consequently, 11 World Test Championship points have been deducted from Pakistan’s points total.” The ICC statement addressed.

Babar pled guilty of the offences and accepted the sanction, for which there was no need for a hearing. The on-field umpires Paul Reiffel and Chris Gaffaney also levelled the charge.

A brave 449 fightback wasn't enough to stop a 3-0 series whitewash

At Edgbaston, during the third game, Pakistan were bundled out for just 133 runs with none of their batters celebrating a single fifty in the innings. Josh Tongue collected four wickets for 42 runs in his 10 overs while Jofra Archer and Ollie Robinson claimed three wickets each.

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England, during the first innings, posted a massive score of 453 runs, thanks to the half-centuries from Emillio Gay, Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith, and Robinson. Pakistan showed their fightback and put 449 runs in the third innings. 

England, however, completed the chase of 130 runs by eight wickets and earned the series victory by 3-0 margin.