Bangladesh Fined by ICC for Slow Over Rate, a Warning Before the Afghanistan Match

Bangladesh have been punished by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for a slow over rate in the first match of the tri-nation ODI series in the United Arab Emirates. For failing to complete their overs in the allotted time, all the team's players have been fined 5 percent of their match fees.

Bangladesh played Zimbabwe in the opening match of the series in Abu Dhabi on Saturday (17 October). In that match the team could not finish its full overs within the scheduled time, and it is now paying the price for that failure with a fine.

The ICC, cricket's global governing body, confirmed the punishment in a press release on Monday (19 October). The sanction therefore arrives as a formal warning for Bangladesh just before their next match against Afghanistan.

David Gilbert of the ICC's Emirates International Panel of Match Referees handed down the punishment against Bangladesh. According to his calculation, even after all time allowances were considered, Bangladesh were one over short.

The fine was imposed under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel. The article states that for every over a team falls short within the allotted time, its players are fined 5 percent of their match fees.

Bangladesh captain Tawhid Hridoy admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by the ICC. Because the captain accepted the punishment, no formal hearing was required.

On-field umpires Allahudien Paleker and Izatullah Safi, third umpire Ahsan Raza and fourth umpire Ahmed Shah Durrani together brought the slow over rate charge against Bangladesh. The match referee made his decision based on their report.

Bangladesh are already under pressure after losing heavily to Zimbabwe in the first match of the tri-nation series. The news of the fine adds further discomfort for the team.

Hridoy's side next play Afghanistan. That match will also be in Abu Dhabi, on 21 October. To stay alive in the series, a win in that match is essential, and the team will also have to be extra careful about its over rate.

Repeated slow over rate offences can bring harsher punishments, so the captain and bowlers have no alternative but to be more conscious of time management on the field. The Afghanistan match will show how well Bangladesh can apply this lesson.