India Docked Two World Test Championship Points For Slow Over-rate in Centurion

The Indian cricket team has been docked two World Test Championship points in addition to a fine of 10 per cent of their match fee by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for maintaining a slow over-rate against South Africa in the first Test in Centurion that concluded on Thursday.

India’s hope of winning a maiden Test series on South African soil ended after they suffered an innings defeat following a horrible second-innings batting collapse.

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As per a media release from the ICC, India have been deemed two overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration.

As per Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined five per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.

In addition, as per Article 16.11.2 of the ICC World Test Championship playing conditions, a side is penalised one point for each over short. Consequently, two World Test Championship points have been deducted from India’s points total.

India Test captain Rohit Sharma pled guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction and so there was no need for a formal hearing.

On-field umpires Paul Reiffel and Langton Rusere, third umpire Ahsan Raza and fourth umpire Stephen Harris levelled the charge.

India have slipped to the sixth spot in the WTC points table which is currently being led by South Africa.

South Africa won the toss and opted to bowl first in overcast conditions. A fighting hundred from KL Rahul helped India post a decent total of 245-all out in their first innings after a five-wicket haul from Kagiso Rabada.

Dean Elgar then struck a magnificent century to lead South Africa’s reply as they made 408-all out. Elgar scored 185 as the hosts took a lead of 163 runs.

India were poorer with the bat in their second dig. Barring Virat Kohli (76) and Shubman Gill (26), no other batter even managed to score in double-digits as they were skittled for 131.