India captain Rishabh Pant has been fined 100% of his match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate in the first T20I against Ireland. Pant was found to be one over short of the target during the match, which India won by 7 wickets.
This is the second time that Pant has been fined for slow over-rate in his career. He was also fined 50% of his match fee during the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) introduced a new rule in 2018 that fines captains 25% of their match fee for every over their team is short of the target. The fine increases to 50% for the second offense and 100% for the third and subsequent offenses.
Pant is the first India captain to be fined 100% of his match fee for slow over-rate. He will also have to face a one-match suspension if his team is found guilty of slow over-rate again in the next 12 months.
Pant admitted that he was disappointed with the slow over-rate and said that he would try to improve in the future.
“It was not intentional,” Pant said. “We were trying our best but we fell short by one over. I will try to improve in the future.”
The slow over-rate has been a problem for India in recent years. The team was fined for slow over-rate in five matches during the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
The Indian cricket board (BCCI) has said that it will take steps to improve the over-rate. The board has appointed a new bowling coach, Paras Mhambrey, who is expected to work on improving the team’s bowling discipline.
The BCCI has also said that it will fine players for slow over-rate in domestic cricket. This is likely to put more pressure on players to maintain a good over-rate in international cricket.
