DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Pakistan’s cricket team has received a penalty from the International Cricket Council (ICC) after being found guilty of maintaining a slow over-rate during the second Test match against South Africa at Newlands. As a consequence of their slow play, the players will lose 25 percent of their match fees, and the team has incurred a deduction of five points in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings.

In this match, South Africa dominated the series against Pakistan, securing a decisive 2-0 victory with a 10-wicket win that concluded within four days of play. The ICC clarified that the team’s slow over-rate was due to being five overs short of the required bowling target while accounting for time allowances.

The governing body emphasized in its official statement that according to the ICC code of conduct, players incur a fine of five percent of their match fee for each over their team fails to complete in the designated timeframe. Additionally, the penalty for a slow over-rate includes a deduction of one WTC point for every over short of the target.

It was also noted that Pakistan’s captain, Shan Masood, acknowledged the imposed sanctions, which made a formal hearing unnecessary. Currently, Pakistan is positioned eighth in the WTC points table, just above the West Indies, who are at the bottom of the rankings.