Pakistan Fined for Slow Over-Rate Against New Zealand in Champions Trophy Opener

Pakistan has been fined five percent of their match fees for maintaining a slow over-rate during their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener against New Zealand in Karachi. The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed the penalty on Thursday, stating that Pakistan was found to be one over short of the required target after time allowances were considered.

The charge was leveled by on-field umpires Richard Kettleborough and Sharfuddoula, third umpire Joel Wilson, and fourth umpire Alex Wharf. Match referee Andy Pycroft imposed the sanction, and Pakistan’s captain Mohammad Rizwan accepted the offense, eliminating the need for a formal hearing. As per Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, teams are fined five percent of their match fees for each over they fail to bowl within the allotted time.

The slow over-rate fine comes as a setback for Pakistan, who are hosting a global cricket event for the first time in three decades. Their campaign got off to a disappointing start as New Zealand secured a dominant 60-run victory in the opening match on Wednesday. The loss has put Pakistan under pressure, making their upcoming clash against arch-rivals India on Sunday a must-win encounter.

Adding to Pakistan’s troubles, opener Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury. The incident occurred when New Zealand’s Will Young drove a delivery from Shaheen Afridi through the covers. Zaman sprinted to stop the ball and successfully palmed it back to Babar Azam for the return throw. However, he immediately showed signs of discomfort, clutching his lower back before signaling for a substitution. The team physio assisted him off the field, though he later returned after New Zealand lost their second wicket in the ninth over.

Following medical assessments, Zaman was declared unfit for the remainder of the tournament. The ICC Event Technical Committee, comprising Wasim Khan, Usman Wahla, Sarah Edgar, and former South African cricketer Shaun Pollock, approved Imam-ul-Haq as his replacement in the squad. Imam’s inclusion is expected to provide stability to Pakistan’s batting lineup as they gear up for the crucial match against India.