Pakistan players slapped with fines

Pakistan has been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate against Australia during the second Test that ended in Melbourne on Friday.

ICC match referee Ranjan Madugalle imposed the fine after Misbah-ul-Haq’s side was ruled to be two overs short of its target when time allowances were taken into consideration.

It is third time in four Tests and fourth time this year Pakistan has failed to maintain the prescribed over rate in a Test match.

Apart from these four matches they also once failed to bowl the overs in the allocated time in a one day international against New Zealand.

Misbah has been fined 40 per cent of his match fee, while his players have received 20 per cent fines.

The Pakistan captain pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

In accordance with Article 2.5.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to 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 was also found one over short following their win at the Oval against England earlier in the year and then two overs short against New Zealand in the first Test in Christchurch last month after which Misbah was suspended for the next Test in Hamilton as it was his second offence in the space of 12 months.

In the second Test against New Zealand in Hamilton, where Azhar Ali stood in as captain, Pakistan was found five overs behind the over rate. Azhar was fined 100 per cent of his match fee, while his players were slapped with 50 per cent fines. Pakistan bowlers’ habit of no balls are a major reason behind the sluggish over rates. They have conceded 92 runs through no-balls in the year, the most by any team in 2016.

Left-arm quick Wahab Riaz bowled 12 no balls in the second Test against Australia at the MCG.

He had also bowled 12 no balls against England at the Oval where Pakistan was found one over behind the over rate.

Speaking ahead of the series, Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur made it clear he wasn't happy with the ill-discipline of his team.

"Our players are giving away all their cash and we've had a captain suspended because of it," Arthur said of the over-rate struggles.

"We've just got to be better than that, we have to get through our overs and there's a constant reminder all the time that we have to get through our overs."