Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed in a fix as the danger of suspension looms over him

The Pakistan Test team led by skipper Sarfraz Ahmed recorded one of their most sensational and remarkable victories when they defeated the England team in the first Test match at the Lords on Sunday. The visitors defeated the hosts in a phenomenal fashion by nine wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series.

At the back of a superb performance by the whole team especially by the bowling unit who managed to exploit the conditions at the Home of Cricket better than the home team, signifies the major reason in the win. However, amidst the historic moment, International Cricket Council (ICC) fined the Pakistan captain 60 percent of his match fee for maintaining the slow-over rate during the Test match.

Sarfraz was charged for the above offence as his team was found to be three overs shot in respect to the expected lines. The match referee for the Lord’s Test, Jeff Crowe imposed the punishment even as the players were also fined 30 percent of their match fee.

The time allowances include treatment given to a player; player leaving the field as a result of a serious injury; all third umpire referrals and consultations; time wasting by the batting side; two minutes per wicket taken and four minutes per drinks break (one per session for Test matches). According to Article 2.5.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Players Support Personnel, players are fined 10 percent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time and the captain in fined double.

Test match suspension threat looms over Sarfraz

The Pakistan skipper pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction as there was no need of a formal hearing. The charges were levelled by the on-field umpires Paul Reiffel and Rod Tucker, third umpire Bruce Oxenford and fourth umpire Rob Bailey.

The second Test match between England and Pakistan will be starting from June 1 (Friday) at Headingley. However, there is a big intimidating factor included with it is that, if Pakistan commits another such offence in a Test within next 12 months with Sarfraz at the helm, the skipper will face a suspension. It would be very disappointing for the young and talented Pakistan side to lose an inspiring captain like Sarfraz for an even a single Test match.

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