Pakistan fined for slow over-rate during ODI in Dubai by International Cricket Council

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Scorecard:	Australia v Pakistan
Player:	Younis Khan

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DateLine: 26th April 2009

 

ICC Media Release - 26 May 2009

 

Younus Khan found guilty of ICC Code of Conduct breach, fined 50 per cent of match fee after his side is four overs short of target against Australia

 

The Pakistan team has been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during its loss to Australia during the second ODI at Dubai on Friday.

 

Jeff Crowe of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the fines after Younus Khan's side was ruled to be four overs short of its target at the end of the Australia innings when time allowances were taken into consideration.

 

And with the shortfall being more than two overs, Younus, as captain, was automatically charged with a Level 2.11 ICC Code of Conduct breach.

 

Younus pleaded guilty to that charge in the hearing that took place today. The charge was laid by the two on-field match officials Asad Rauf and Billy Bowden as well as third umpire Zameer Haider and fourth official Nadeem Ghauri.

 

Younus was fined 50 per cent of his match fee for the breach – the minimum amount allowable for a Level two offence – and as he was found guilty, that punishment took precedence over the fine that was imposed on him as part of the Pakistan team.

 

That is in accordance with the ICC Code of Conduct regulation that states: "In the event of the captain being found guilty of a charge under this rule (2.11), the sanction imposed will take the place of the fine imposed..."

 

The other players are each fined five per cent of their match fees for every over they failed to bowl in the time allowed and so Younus's team-mates are each 20 per cent out of pocket following the match. If a captain is not charged and found guilty under 2.11, his punishment for an over-rate breach is always double that of the rest of the team.

 

Players found guilty of a Level two, three or four offence under the ICC Code of Conduct have a right of appeal. Such an appeal must be lodged in writing within 24 hours of the player receiving the original verdict.

 

The penalties for a Level two offence range from a fine of 50 per cent of a player's match fee up to a fine of a full match fee and/or a one-Test or two-ODI ban.

 

The hearing was attended by the match referee, the umpires, the player, Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam and team manager Yawar Saeed.

 

Mr Crowe said: "Younus was warned on several occasions during the match that he was falling behind on the over-rates yet he still did not catch up. It is not acceptable for teams to bowl their overs too slowly and now Younus must be very careful it doesn't happen again in the next year or he will find himself suspended."

 

The full ICC Code of Conduct can be found at:
http://in.yimg.com/icccricket/pdfs/code-of-conduct-for-players-and-officials.pdf.

(Article: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
Copyright © 2009 International Cricket Council)