1st ODI: Pakistan fined for slow over-rate versus Sri Lanka
What's the story
The Pakistan cricket team has been fined 20% of its match fee for a slow over-rate in the first ODI against Sri Lanka. The decision was announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday. Match referee Ali Naqvi imposed the penalty after Shaheen Afridi's side was found to be four overs short of its target during an innings that lasted over four hours. Here's more.
Rule enforcement
Here is the official ICC statement
According to Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct, players are fined 5% of their match fee for every over their team fails to bowl in the allotted time. The on-field umpires Alex Wharf and Asif Yaqoob, along with third umpire Sharfuddoula and fourth official Rashid Riaz, leveled the charge against Pakistan. Afridi accepted the sanction without contesting it, avoiding a formal hearing.
Schedule change
Rescheduling of 2nd ODI
The second ODI was originally scheduled for Thursday but has been pushed back a day. This change comes after some Sri Lankan players expressed their desire to leave on Wednesday night following a terror incident in Islamabad, where they are staying. A late-night meeting was held involving the PCB chairman, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and the Sri Lankan players.
Assurance given
SLC threatened disciplinary action
During the meeting, PCB chairman assured the players that they would be safe in Islamabad. The SLC threatened disciplinary action against any player who chose to leave, which ultimately persuaded them to stay. As a result of these developments, the second and third ODIs have been rescheduled by a day. The subsequent T20I tri-series involving Zimbabwe will also begin a day later due to these changes.
Information
Pakistan won the 1st ODI against Sri Lanka
Hosts Pakistan lead the three-match series after beating Sri Lanka in the opener in Rawalpindi. The Lankans fell six runs short of chasing down 300. Rawalpindi will also host the next two ODIs.