ICC brutally punishes Pakistan after humiliating loss to New Zealand in CT 2025

The International Cricket Council (ICC) punished the Pakistan National Cricket Team for maintaining a slow over-rate in the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Mohammad Rizwan's Pakistan National Cricket Team locked horns with the Mitchell Santner-led New Zealand National Cricket Team in the Champions Trophy opener at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday, February 19.

Also Read: Mohammed Shami creates history, becomes India's GOAT in ICC events & fastest to 200 ODI wickets

Pakistan faced a humiliating loss against New Zealand

The Men In Green faced an embarrassing 60-run defeat at the hands of the Black Caps to start their campaign in the marquee competition.

Pakistan won the toss and opted to bowl first in the match. The decision backfired as Will Young and Tom Latham hit terrific tons to help their team post a huge total of 320/5 on the board.

Glenn Phillips also played an explosive innings of 61 runs that put the Shaheen Afridi-led bowling attack under pressure. Overall, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah picked up two wickets each for Pakistan while Abrar Ahmed got one wicket.

Chasing the target, Pakistan lost Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan early. Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman tried to stabilize the innings but were unable to do any major damage.

Fakhar was struggling with the injury he picked up earlier in the match, while Babar Azam played an extremely slow knock of 64 runs off 90 balls. In the end, Khushdil Shah played a good knock of 60 runs, but he didn't get the desired support from the other end, and the Men In Green were bowled out for 260 runs.

Pakistan fined for slow over-rate against New Zealand by ICC

On Thursday, February 20, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that Mohammad Rizwan & Co. have been fined 5 percent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate against the Black Caps.

The Men In Green were found 1 over short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration and the match referee Andy Pycroft imposed the sanction.

"Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after Mohammad Rizwan’s side was ruled to be 1 over short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration.

"In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined five per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time," ICC said in an official media release.

"Mohammad pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing. On-field umpires Richard Kettleborough and Sharfuddoula, third umpire Joel Wilson and fourth umpire Alex Wharf levelled the charge," ICC added.

There were 49 dot balls in Babar Azam's fifty - Aakash Chopra

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra lashed out at the star Pakistan batter Babar Azam for his slow knock in the first match of Champions Trophy 2025. He elaborated:

"Fakhar Zaman got injured. So he couldn't come to open. Saud Shakeel was sent to open. He had to bat for 25 minutes but he couldn't do that, and Mohammed Rizwan had to go up the order. After that, when Babar Azam was batting, Fakhar Zaman was there with him, you started with the required rate of around 6.50 runs per over and you took it close to 8.50 at the 20-over stage.

"After that, it went till 9.50 and 10. Sir, you were going way behind in the game. You were going at four runs per over. You might score runs for yourself but would end the team's chances. There were 49 dot balls in Babar Azam's fifty."