ICC fines Pakistan 40% of match fee and eight WTC points for slow over-rate in Bangladesh Test

Reports suggested changes ahead of the second Test in Sylhet, with Shaheen Afridi and opener Imam-ul-Haq expected to be dropped, while Babar Azam was set to return after injury. Mohammad Rizwan was also criticised after scoring 59 in the first innings.

The same report noted that analysts had repeatedly warned Shan Masood about the over-rate during the Test.

Telecom Asia Sport reported a tense dressing-room exchange, with captain Shan Masood criticizing the pace attack for failing to create pressure and Shaheen Shah Afridi allegedly replying that the batting collapse was to blame, urging the captain to focus on his own batting.

The ICC confirmed Pakistan were eight overs short and imposed a penalty: a 40% fine of their match fee and eight World Test Championship points docked, dropping them to eighth in the standings.

In Dhaka, Pakistan were bowled out for 163 chasing 268 and lost the opening Test by 104 runs, extending their streak of defeats to Bangladesh.

The article notes that Pakistan's defeat in Dhaka followed a 2024 home series against Bangladesh, contributing to what it describes as their third consecutive Test loss to Bangladesh.

Following the points deduction, Pakistan fell to eighth place in the World Test Championship 2025–27 standings with four points, sitting just above West Indies.

The ICC fined Pakistan 40 percent of their match fee and penalised eight World Test Championship points for maintaining a slow over-rate, eight overs short after time allowances. The sanction was under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct and Article 16.11.2 of the WTC playing conditions. Pakistan captain Shan Masood accepted the offence; no formal hearing was required. The judgement was announced by match referee Jeff Crowe, following input from umpires Richard Kettleborough, Kumar Dharmasena, third umpire Allahuddien Palekar, and fourth umpire Gazi Sohel.

Bangladesh defeated Pakistan by 104 runs in the opening Test at home, marking Bangladesh's first-ever Test win over Pakistan at home. Nahid Rana delivered a five-wicket haul to spearhead the victory on the final day.