Pakistan lose 11 WTC points after slow over-rate

Pakistan faced a penalty of 11 points and had 50 percent of their match fees deducted following a slow over rate during their recent Test match against England at Edgbaston. The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the sanction, stating that Pakistan was 11 overs behind their target, leading to England's eight-wicket victory and series sweep.

The decision came from the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, headed by Ranjan Madugalle, after being reported by on-field umpires Paul Reiffel and Chris Gaffaney, along with third umpire Allahudien Palekar and fourth umpire Russell Warren. This ruling places Pakistan at the bottom of the World Test Championship standings, with only five points from nine matches.

Australia tops the table with eight wins from ten Tests in the current cycle, followed by defending champions South Africa in second place. The top two teams will face off in the final at Lord's in June 2027. Pakistan's next Tests are scheduled for November against Sri Lanka. England secured their first Test series win since 2024, while Pakistan now have a record of 16 losses in their last 21 games.

England's debutant fast bowler Razaullah contributed significantly to the win with a powerful batting display, scoring 81 runs off 63 balls and taking four wickets in the first innings. Despite Razaullah's impressive performance, Pakistan's efforts proved insufficient as they lost the second Test by 194 runs and the series 2-1. The team's disappointing performance led to the dismissal of seven players and the sacking of head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and assistant coach Umar Gul.

In the third Test, Pakistan made four changes to their lineup, but they still struggled, being dismissed for just 133 runs in their first innings. Captain Babar Azam acknowledged the need for self-reflection following the series loss, emphasizing the importance of analyzing the team's mistakes and deciding on the playing XI.