Pakistan has received a significant penalty in the World Test Championship (WTC) following their recent Test match against South Africa in Cape Town. The team was penalized five WTC points and 25% of their match fee for failing to maintain the required over rate, falling short by five overs after accounting for allowable time adjustments.

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The decision was made by match referee Richie Richardson and was based on reports from umpires Kumar Dharmasena, Nitin Menon, Alex Wharf, and Stephen Harris. Pakistan captain Shan Masood accepted the charge, eliminating the need for a formal hearing.

This marks Pakistan’s third such penalty in the 2023-25 WTC cycle. Previously, they lost two points after the Perth Test against Australia in December 2023 and six points following the Rawalpindi Test against Bangladesh in August 2024.

These cumulative deductions have significantly impacted Pakistan’s standing in the WTC. From a potential 48 points from 12 Tests, they now hold just 35 points. Their points percentage has dropped from 27.78 to 24.31, leaving them precariously positioned in eighth place, barely ahead of West Indies’ 24.24 percentage at the bottom of the nine-team table.

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The penalty adds particular significance to Pakistan’s upcoming two-Test series against West Indies, scheduled to begin January 16 in Karachi and Multan, as one of the final series in the current WTC cycle.