All-rounder Mohammad Nawaz sanctioned for breaching ICC's anti-doping code

Nawaz admits anti-doping code violation, ICC says substance used outside competition

Mohammad Nawaz has been sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after testing positive for a cannabis-related substance, ​the governing body said on Friday, with the all-rounder being handed a three-month ban that can be reduced upon completion of a rehabilitation programme.

The 32-year-old tested positive for ​Carboxy-THC - a metabolite of THC, the psychoactive component ​in cannabis - after Pakistan's Twenty20 World Cup match ⁠against the Netherlands in February.

Carboxy-THC is classified as ​a Substance of Abuse under the ICC's Anti-Doping Code.

Nawaz admitted ​the violation and demonstrated that the substance had been used out of competition in a manner unrelated to sporting performance, the ICC ​said.

Pakistan spin-bowling all-rounder has been sanctioned under the ICC Anti-Doping Code.https://t.co/GzjhKhKOWa

— ICC (@ICC) July 17, 2026

The all-rounder was handed a three-month suspension, backdated ​to May 1, the date he started a voluntary provisional suspension. The ‌ICC ⁠said that after serving about two and a half months under the provisional suspension and agreeing to undergo rehabilitation, his provisional suspension had been lifted.

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The governing body ​added that, in ​line with ⁠its anti-doping code, Nawaz’s records from the Netherlands match on February 7 and subsequent ​matches until May 1 have been disqualified.

Nawaz ​featured ⁠in all seven of Pakistan's matches at this year's men's T20 World Cup, from their opening game against the ⁠Netherlands through ​the Super Eights stage, where ​they were eliminated. He scored 15 runs and took seven wickets in ​the tournament.