Afghanistan Fined 25% of Match Fee for Slow Over-Rate in One-Off Test Against Zimbabwe

Afghanistan, led by captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, have been fined 25% of their match fee for a slow over-rate in the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Harare. Match referee Richie Richardson from the ICC Elite Panel gave the penalty after the team was found to be five overs short of the required rate, even after taking delays into account.

"Afghanistan have been fined 25 per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate in the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Harare that ended on Wednesday. Richie Richardson of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction as Afghanistan were ruled to be five overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration." ICC said in a statement.

Under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct, teams are fined five percent of their match fee for each over they fail to bowl in the given time. The charge against Afghanistan was made by umpires Adrian Holdstock, Nitin Menon, Forster Mutizwa, and Percival Sizara. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi admitted to the slow over-rate offence and accepted the penalty, so no formal hearing was needed.

Zimbabwe claimed their first Test win at home since 2013, beating Afghanistan by an innings and 73 runs thanks to a strong all-round performance.

It is worth noting that after the Test match, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan will play a three-match T20I series at the same venue from October 29 to November 2. In T20 cricket, both teams have faced each other 18 times, with Afghanistan winning 16 matches and Zimbabwe managing to win only two.

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