DUBAI – The International Cricket Council said on Saturday that Pakistanhas been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate against Australia in thefourth one-day international in Dubai.

According to a communique issued by the ICC, Pakistan’s captain Imad Wasimwas also fined 20 per cent of his match fee.

According to the global governing body of cricket, Jeff Crowe of theEmirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the fine after Pakistanwas found to be short of its target after time allowances were taken intoconsideration.

“In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players andPlayer Support Personnel, which relates to minor over-rate offences,players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for every over their sidefails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double thatamount,” the media release stated.

If Pakistan commit another minor over-rate breach in an ODI within 12months of this offence with Imad as captain, it will be deemed a secondoffence by him and Imad will face a suspension, it warned.

The statement continued that Imad pleaded guilty to the offense after theend of the match and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no needfor a formal hearing.

On Friday, Australia defeated Pakistan in a nail-biting encounter by 6 runsdespite a debut hundred by Abid Ali and second career century by MohammadRizwan in the fourth encounter of the five-match series.

Australia now leads the series with decisive 4-0 as Pakistan struggles toevade a White Wash. The final match of the series is scheduled to be playedin Dubai on Sunday.