The Indian team and West Indies have been fined after they maintained a slow over-rate in the first T20 International in Trinidad and Tobago on 3 August. The Men in Blue was fined five percent of their match fees after falling one over short of the minimum over rate while Windies on the other hand was fined 10 percent of their match fees, falling two overs short of the minimum over rate.
Match Referee Richie Richardson, who is from the Emirates ICC Elite Panel imposed the fine after Hardik Pandya and Rovman Powell’s teams were caught to be one and two overs short respectively of the target.
“In accordance with 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 percent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, subject to a cap of 50 percent of the match fee”, ICC said.
Hardik Pandya and Powell accepted their mistakes and pleaded guilty and so there was no formal hearing.
Talking about the game, the home team registered a four-run win against India at the Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba in Trinidad on Thursday. After winning the toss, West Indies decided to bat first. They ended up making 149/6 on the board with the help of Rovman Powell who top-scored with 48 off 32 and wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran who made 41 from 34 balls.
India in reply failed to chase down the target despite Tilak Varma’s gutsy knock of 39 off 22 in his debut game. Jason Holder (2/19) was the pick of the bowlers for West Indies and was named the Player of the Match. India and West Indies will be playing the second T20I on Sunday (August 6) at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.