ICC Champions Trophy: Sarfraz Ahmed escapes 1-match ban as Pakistan beat Sri Lanka

Cardiff: Everything was too close to comfort but they managed to escape unhurt. This was Pakistan’s story as they beat Sri Lanka on Monday to seal a place in the semifinals of the ICC Champions Trophy. While Sarfraz Ahmed, who scored a match-winning 61 not out to seal Pakistan’s nailbiting three-wicket win versus Angelo Mathews-led side, he managed to escape one-match ban as his team was fined for slow over-rate.

The Pakistani skipper was fined 20 per cent of his match fees while the other players were fined 10 per cent of their match fees.

“Sarfraz Ahmed’s side was ruled to be one over short of its target when time allowances were taken into consideration. Pakistan has been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate against Sri Lanka during its last Group B fixture in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 in Cardiff on Monday,” said the International Cricket Council in its media release.

“Chris Broad of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the fine after Sarfraz Ahmed’s side was ruled to be one over short of its target when time allowances were taken into consideration,” added ICC.

“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. As such, Sarfraz has been fined 20 per cent of his match fee, while his players have received 10 per cent fines. Sarfraz pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing,” said cricket’s governing body.

While Sarfraz was not banned from action, if Pakistan are involved in over-rate offence for one more in the tournament, the Pakistani captain will be suspended for a game.

“If there is a second minor over-rate offence committed by Pakistan during the event with Sarfraz as captain, he will be suspended for one match,” said ICC.

“The charge was laid by on-field umpires Bruce Oxenford and Marais Erasmus, third umpire Chris Gaffaney and fourth umpire Ian Gould,” concluded ICC.