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ICC suspend Misbah for second Test

The Pakistan captain banned for Hamilton Test against New Zealand due to a slow over-rate

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has been suspended by the International Cricket Council for the second Test against New Zealand and fined 40 per cent of his match fee for a slow over-rate in the series-opener in Christchurch.

Misbah was likely to miss the second Test against the Black Caps in Hamilton anyway, after travelling back to Pakistan on Sunday evening following the death of his father-in-law.

ICC match referee Richie Richardson imposed the suspension on the 42-year-old after Pakistan was deemed to have fallen two overs short of its target of 103 overs, even after time allowances had been taken into consideration.

The remaining members of the Pakistan XI that lost to the Kiwis by eight wickets were fined 20 per cent – 10 per cent for each over they were short.

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Misbah had previously been found guilty of a slow over-rate offence during the fourth Test against Engand at The Oval in August, where Pakistan sealed a 2-2 series draw.

As it was his second transgression within a 12-month period, Misbah has been suspended in accordance with the ICC Code of Conduct.

It will be the second time that the veteran skipper has missed a Test due to a slow over-rate suspension.

In 2012 he was banned from Pakistan’s Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, after being charged for a tardy over-rate during the ODI series that preceded the Tests. 

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Until now, that was the only five-day match Misbah has missed since taking charge of the Test side in October 2010.

After the Galle Test, he captained the team in 35 consecutive matches which was a Pakistan record. This week in Christchurch, he became the first Pakistan player to play 50 Tests as captain, of which he has won 24, making him the most successful captain in the nation’s history. 

Pakistan had previously confirmed that their veteran skipper was in doubt to return in time for Pakistan’s second Test, which begins on Friday.

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“We are not sure if he will be able to play in Hamilton,” a Pakistan team official said.

In January last year, stand-in Australia one-day international captain George Bailey was banned for an ODI against England and fined 50 per cent of his match fee for a slow over-rate.

Other captains to serve suspensions in 2015 for slow over-rates were West Indies’ Jason Holder, Bangladesh’s Mashrafe Mortaza and Zimbabwe’s Elton Chigumbura.

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