Azhar Ali banned and fined for slow over-rate

Pakistan ODI captain will miss one match, pay 40% match fee as penalty

SYDNEY: International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Friday that Pakistan’s ODI captain Azhar Ali has been suspended for one match for a slow over rate during the fifth one-dayer against Australia in Adelaide.

The suspension means Azhar will miss Pakistan’s next ODI against the West Indies in April. He was also fined 40% of his match fee, with the other players fined 20% of their fees.



The punishment was imposed by match referee Jeff Crowe after Pakistan was ruled to be two overs short of its target after time allowances were taken into consideration.

According to the ICC Code of Conduct, players are fined 10% of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time. Their captain is fined double that amount.



Azhar had previously been found guilty of a minor over-rate offence in an ODI against New Zealand in Auckland in late January. The Adelaide offence was the second within a year, triggering the suspension.

Australia won the ODI series 4-1 against Pakistan.