Team India’s slow over-rate has also come at the cost of one point from their total in the World Test Championship.
The International Cricket Council put a dampener of sorts on India’s historic victory at Centurion in their first Test match against the Proteas, fining each member of the squad 20 per cent of their match fee. The Indians were shown to have maintained a slow over-rate, and as a result, have also seen one point being deducted from their World Test Championship tally, in addition to the haircut on the match fees.
The ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, led by Andrew Pycroft, approved the sanction after it was found that India fell a solitary over short of the required minimum after taking time allowances into consideration.
As a result, according to Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct, each player of the side was fined 20 per cent of their match fees for every over that they fail to bowl in the stipulated time. In India’s case, the fine was 20 per cent of the match fee for each player.
Further, as per Section 16.11 of the ICC WTC Playing Conditions, a side loses one point from their World Test Championship Tally for every over they fail to bowl within the time constraints specified by the authorities. In accordance to this rule, India have had one point docked from their tally in the WTC.
The ICC added that Indian captain Virat Kohli pled guilty to the offence and accepted the sanction that was to be imposed on the squad. Hence, there was no need for a formal hearing regarding the matter.
“Umpires Marais Erasmus, Adrian Holdstock, Allahudien Paleker and Bongani Jele levelled the charge,”
read the official statement from the ICC.
