Asia Cup 2022: India, Pakistan fined owing to slow-over rate

India and Pakistan locked horns in the second match of the Asia Cup 2022 and it was the former who came out on top at the end of the match. Men in Blue clinched the thrilling match that went down the wire as Hardik Pandya, the player of the match, sealed it for India with a six. Both the Indian bowlers and Pakistan bowlers maintained a slow over-rate throughout the match and the Pakistan team had to deal with injury woes.

The Pakistani bowlers Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf struggled with their legs and had to take more time for each ball. The Indian bowlers, on the other hand, took more time to set fields which cost them a certain percentage of their match fees. Jeff Crowe from the Cricket’s governing body panel of referees imposed the sanctions on both teams and they have been fined forty per cent of their match fees.

Article 2.22 of Cricket’s governing body Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Panel states that the teams can be fined 20% of their match fees for every over they fail to bowl in the allotted time. Both teams fell short by two overs each and had to be fined 40% of the match fees. Skipper Rohit Sharma and Babar Azam pleaded guilty and thus, no further hearing was needed on the issue.

The accusation of slow over-rate was made by on-field umpires Masudur Rahman and Ruchira Pilliyaguruge, third umpire Raveendra Wimalasiri and fourth umpire Gazi Sohel.

India to take on Hong Kong on Wednesday in the Asia Cup 2022

Team India will take on Hong Kong on Wednesday (August 31) and it won’t be a cakewalk for the Men in Blue. For the unversed, Hong Kong lost the match against India in the 2018 Asia Cup by just 26 runs and the memories might still be fresh in the Indian camp. Hong Kong are the winners of the Asia Cup 2022 qualifiers and are coming into the game on the back of a few splendid wins.

A win for India in this match would seal the place for them in the Super Fours alongside Afghanistan.