Pakistan’s England nightmare deepens: 11 WTC points docked, 50% fine — here’s why

🏏 Pakistan's WTC nightmare goes from bad to worse!

The result of the England vs Pakistan 3-0 Test sweep has now come with an added punch for the touring side. After the Edgbaston Test, Pakistan were hit with a double penalty for a chronic overrate problem:

• 11 WTC points docked

• 50% match fee fine (the maximum allowed)

Here's the breakdown:

Pakistan finished 11 overs short on overrate in Birmingham. Under ICC rules, that's 5 points per over short (capped at 50% match fee), plus 1 WTC point for every over short — hence the 11-point hit.

Babar Azam pled guilty and accepted the sanction, so no formal hearing was needed.

The damage to their WTC hopes:

Pakistan now sit 9th in the standings with a grim 4.63 points percentage. Their campaign has been brutal — just 2 wins and 7 defeats from 9 Tests.

A quick recap of the sweep:

• Headingley: England won by an innings & 103

• Lord's: England won by 194 runs

• Edgbaston: England won by 8 wkts

At Edgbaston specifically, Pakistan were bowled out for 133 first, trailing after England's 453. They fought back brilliantly in the 2nd Inn with Shan Masood's 95, Babar's 76, and debutant Razaullah's 81, including a 121-run 9th-wicket stand with Abbas. But England chased down just 130 with Root (62*) and Cox (59*) doing the damage.

Next up for Pakistan: hosting Sri Lanka in a 2-Test series in Rawalpindi & Lahore this November.

A tough time all round for the team. What do you think — was the overrate really this bad, or a rough series all factors? 💬

Source: Times of India