Why has ICC punished Pakistan with 11 WTC point deductions and fines?

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has punished the Pakistan men’s cricket team with a double penalty for maintaining a slow over-rate in the third Test against England at Edgbaston. The Babar Azam-led side has been docked 11 World Test Championship (WTC) points — effectively putting an end to their hopes of qualifying for a first WTC final — and the players have been hit with a 50% of their match fees.

As per the ICC process, the on-field umpires Paul Reiffel and Chris Gaffaney, third umpire Allahudien Palekar, and fourth umpire Russell Warren levelled the charge, and match referee Ranjan Madugalle imposed the sanction.

“In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined five per cent of their match fee for each over their team fails to bowl within the allotted time, with the maximum penalty capped at 50 percent of the match fee,” the ICC said in a statement.

“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 world body added.

It only adds salt to Pakistan’s wounds. The visitors were clean-swept in the series, losing all matches by huge margins. After the 11-point deduction, Pakistan find themselves at the bottom of the WTC table with two wins from 11 Tests, and a win percentage of only 4.63.

Updated WTC table after Pakistan’s 11-point deduction

Australia and South Africa continue to lead the race for the 2027 WTC final. England, thanks to points deductions of their own, are quite behind at sixth.