The gap between bottom-placed West Indies and Pakistan in the World Test Championship (WTC) has narrowed after Pakistan and Bangladesh were penalized for slow over-rates in the first Test of their series in Rawalpindi. Pakistan lost six points, and Bangladesh lost three points due to the infractions.
Match referee Ranjan Madugalle found Pakistan to be six overs short and Bangladesh three overs short of the required target after accounting for time allowances. IIn addition to losing WTC points, players from both teams received fines—Pakistan at 30% of their match fees and Bangladesh at 15%. Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct dictates a 5% fine for every over a team falls shor Additionally, under Article 16.11.2 of the WTC playing conditions, teams lose one WTC point for each over they fall short.
Pakistan fielded an all-pace attack at home for the first time in 28 years during the Test, which they lost by ten wickets. This strategy may have contributed to their slow over-rate. Meanwhile, Bangladesh used two frontline spinners.
Following these deductions, Pakistan remains in eighth place with 16 points and 22.22 percentage points, closing the gap with West Indies at the bottom of the table. Bangladesh, who briefly overtook South Africa to reach sixth place after their win, have dropped back to seventh place with 21 points and 35 percentage points. Both captains, Shan Masood of Pakistan and Najmul Hossain Shanto of Bangladesh, admitted to the offences and accepted the penalties.
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