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The Pakistan National Cricket Team has been rocked by a major controversy after Mohammad Nawaz landed in serious trouble over an anti-doping rule violation ahead of the West Indies series. The 32-year-old has been sanctioned for breaching the ICC Anti-Doping Code.
The spin-bowling all-rounder has been handed a ban by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday (July 17) after failing a doping test during the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Amid this, Babar Azam set to reclaim Pakistan's T20I captaincy after Test role.
Mohammad Nawaz banned by ICC after failing a doping Test before the West Indies series
Mohammad Nawaz has been banned for three months by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for breaching the ICC Anti-Doping Code. The doping test was taken after Pakistan's T20 World Cup 2026 match against the Netherlands in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on February 7, 2026.
The test found Carboxy-THC in his sample. This substance comes under the ICC's list of banned “Substances of Abuse.” Nawaz accepted that he had broken the ICC Anti-Doping Code. During the investigation, it was found that he had not taken the substance to improve his performance.
The ICC stated in an official release: “The 32-year-old tested positive for a substance of abuse (carboxy-THC) under the ICC Anti-Doping Code following a doping test carried out after the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 match against the Netherlands in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 7 February.”
ICC set to cut doping ban after big condition
The use had nothing to do with gaining an advantage in matches at the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. But the Pakistani all-rounder has been given some relief. Nawaz’s ban could be reduced to one month if he successfully completes ICC’s rehabilitation program.
The ban started from May 1, 2026, because he had already decided to stay away from cricket under a voluntary provisional suspension from that date. Since he accepted the punishment and agreed to join a rehabilitation program, his suspension has been reduced.
He has already completed around two and a half months of the ban, and his provisional suspension has now been lifted. If Nawaz completes the rehabilitation program successfully and meets all ICC requirements, he will not have to serve the remaining part of his three-month ban.
ICC wipes out months of performances
That means he can return to the action soon. This action has also affected the spinner’s match records. The ICC has cancelled all of Nawaz's performances from Pakistan's T20 World Cup match against the Netherlands on February 7 until May 1, 2026. Those matches and his performances during that period will no longer be counted in the official records.
Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that the ICC had informed them about Mohammad Nawaz's alleged anti-doping rule violation. Meanwhile, Pakistan is set to host a four-team ODI tournament ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
The PCB had said in a statement in April this year: “The International Cricket Council (ICC) has informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) about this matter, and the PCB has begun the due process. The results of this process will be communicated to the ICC today.”
