Pakistanhave been fined 20% of their match fees after maintaining a slow over rate during the first ODI of the three-match series. The hosts eventually emerged victorious by a narrow six-run margin in Rawalpindi.
The development was confirmed through an official press release from the International Cricket Council. Match referee Ali Naqvi handed down the sanction to Shaheen Shah Afridi's team as per Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct. The provision states that players are fined 5% of their match fees for each over their side fails to bowl within the allotted time.
The charge was pressed by on-field umpires Asif Yaqoob and Alex Wharf. Sharfuddoula and Rashid Riaz were the third umpire and reserve umpire, respectively. No formal hearing was required as Shaheen accepted the charges without opposing.
The Green Shirts brought in one extra fielder inside the 30-yard circle after the 46th over of the Lankan innings. Sri Lanka, who had lost their seventh wicket with 90 still required for victory. They came close after Wanindu Hasaranga's 52-ball 59-run knock.
The second ODI between the two teams was supposed to be held on Thursday (November 13). A few players from Sri Lanka were inclining towards leaving the country on Wednesday night after a terror incident in Islamabad shocked the city. Due to these developments, a late night meeting between the Pakistan Cricket Board's chairperson Mohsin Naqvi and the Lankan players meant the players were persuaded on staying on.
Sri Lanka Cricket also released a statement in which they threatened that players who would leave the group midway through the series will have to face disciplinary consequences. The second and third matches scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi have been pushed back by a day each. The subsequent T20I tri-series involving Zimbabwe will also start one day later than the original schedule.
