Misbah-ul-Haq suspended for over-rate offence

June 19, 2012, 9:37 pm

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Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has been suspended by the ICC from the first Test starting in Galle next Friday against Sri Lanka because his team was found guilty of a "serious over-rate offence" during the 5th ODI, held in Colombo last Monday.

Pakistan were found to be three overs short of their target even after time allowances were taken into consideration. Misbah pleaded guilty to the charge laid by the umpires and the penalties were accepted without the need for a formal hearing.

"As this was Pakistan’s first serious over-rate offence in the past 12 months, Chris Broad of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees handed Misbah two suspension points while each of his players received a 40% fine (10% for each of the first two overs and 20% for the additional over)," the ICC said in a statement.

"… the imposition of two suspension points means that Misbah will now miss Pakistan’s first Test against Sri Lanka which starts in Galle from Friday, since such suspension points are to be applied to the subsequent international matches in which Misbah is most likely to participate on a chronological basis immediately following the announcement of the decision," the above statement has further added.