Pakistan’s disappointing start to their campaign in the Women’s T20 World Cup suffered another setback after the team was penalised for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the Group A clash against India at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Sunday. The sanction was announced a day after Pakistan’s defeat in the high-profile encounter, with the ICC confirming consequences for the offence.
Pakistan were sanctioned by the ICC for maintaining a slow over-rate during their T20 World Cup clash against India. Match Referee Trudy Anderson found the Fatima Sana-led side one over short of the required rate after accounting for all applicable time allowances, resulting in a five per cent match-fee fine for the players. Under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct, teams are penalised for minimum over-rate offences, with players fined five per cent of their match fee for every over not completed within the stipulated time.
The charge was brought by on-field umpires Claire Polosak and Jacquline Williams, along with third umpire Eloise Sheridan and fourth umpire Sue Redfern. Pakistan captain Fatima Sana accepted the offence and the proposed sanction, meaning no formal hearing was required.
Pakistan had lost the game against India by 64 runs after Deepti Sharma took five wickets to bowl them out for just 106 runs. The spinner had, in fact, picked his last three wickets in just five balls as India successfully defended 170 runs in front of a heavily partisan Edgbaston crowd, a sell-out 18,814, a record attendance for a World Cup group match.
Earlier, Deepti also scored 23 runs with the bat as was involved in a crucial partnership alongside Richa Ghosh as the wicketkeeper-batter blasted 34 off 17 balls which helped India bounce back to score 170/6.
India will play their next game against South Africa on Sunday, June 21.
