The Pakistan men's cricket team has been sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (
Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi formally pleaded guilty to the offence, accepting the penalty under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which governs minimum over-rate breaches. The charge was brought by on-field umpires Ahsan Raza and Wayne Knights, alongside third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Rashid Riaz, with Match Referee Jeff Crowe confirming the sanction.
A Thrilling Finish Overshadowed by Administrative Penalty
The disciplinary action follows a high-scoring encounter that saw Pakistan successfully chase down a target of 326 to secure the tri-series trophy. Despite early setbacks, including the dismissal of
The momentum shifted decisively in Pakistan's favour through a blistering cameo from Arafat Minhas, who struck 61 from just 31 balls. His aggressive approach, which featured four sixes and four boundaries, set the stage for the final push, with captain Afridi ultimately hitting the winning six. Sri Lanka’s competitive total of 325 for eight had been built upon a century from Kamindu Mendis and a solid 77 from Pavan Rathnayake, but their efforts were ultimately eclipsed by the hosts' late-order surge.
Babar Azam Faces Scrutiny Amid Technical Struggles
While the team celebrated their tournament win, individual focus has turned to the form of Babar Azam. Following his failure in the final, former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf has publicly suggested that the 32-year-old should travel to Australia or South Africa to seek specialised technical guidance. Yousuf noted that domestic first-class cricket may not be sufficient to address the batter's recent slump.
Babar, who has recorded only one ODI century in the past three years, is currently preparing for a two-Test series against Sri Lanka beginning on 9 November. Having already been omitted from the T20 squad, his future in white-ball cricket remains a subject of intense discussion. To regain his standing ahead of next year's World Cup, the former captain is scheduled to participate in a first-class fixture for Lahore in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy starting on 3 November.
