Misbah ul Haq suspended from the 2nd Test against New Zealand

Pakistan skipper Misbah ul Haq has been suspended for one Test for maintaining slow over-rate against New Zealand in the first Test at the Hagley Oval. Misbah attracted a 40 percent fine on his match fees. This was 42-year-old’s second minor over-rate offense in a span of 12 months.

Earlier, Pakistan was found guilty of a similar offense in the last Test against England at The Oval. The decision by the match referee doesn’t actually matter as the Pakistani skipper has already flown back to Pakistan and will unavailable for the 2nd and the final test due to his father-in-law’s demise.

“Richie Richardson of the Emirates Elite Panel of International Cricket Council (ICC) Match Referees imposed the suspension on Misbah after Pakistan were ruled to be two overs short of its target of 103 overs after time allowances were taken into consideration,” read an ICC media release.

Apart from the captain, the players were also fined 20 per cent of their match fee. Misbah, under the suspension, will have to miss the second Test against New Zealand which starts on Friday in Hamilton.

In accordance with Article 2.5.1 and Appendix 2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Players Support Personnel, which deals with minor over-rate offences, players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount.

Pakistan is trailing 1-0 after losing the opening match by 8 wickets. The second Test begins on November 25th at Hamilton.