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In a significant turn of events during the Champions Trophy 2025, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has taken action against Pakistan for their slow over-rate in their opening match against New Zealand, which ended in a disappointing 60-run defeat for the hosts.
Pakistan’s slow over-rate penalty
The match, held on Wednesday (February 19), saw Pakistan struggling to keep up with the required run rate while chasing New Zealand’s imposing total of 321 runs. The team’s sluggish performance not only resulted in a loss but also led to them being penalized for failing to maintain the required over-rate during New Zealand’s innings.
As a result, a penalty was enforced, restricting the team to placing only four fielders outside the 30-yard circle instead of five during the final powerplay of the innings.
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According to the Champions Trophy playing conditions, teams must maintain a minimum over rate of 14.28 overs per hour, ensuring an ODI innings is completed within three and a half hours. However, the first innings extended beyond this limit, concluding at 6:11 PM local time, exceeding four hours in duration.
As per the ICC’s Code of Conduct, each member of the fielding side can be fined five percent of their match fee per over if they fall short of the required over rate, with a maximum penalty of 50 percent of their match fee. Given this, Pakistan players also faced fines for failing to meet the stipulated rate.
What’s next for Pakistan?
As Pakistan prepares for their next matches in the tournament, they will need to address both their batting approach and their over-rate issues to avoid further penalties and improve their chances of advancing to the knockout stage. The team’s performance against New Zealand serves as a wake-up call as they aim to reclaim their status as formidable contenders in international cricket.
