Pakistan’s nightmare tour of New Zealand just went from bad to worse. After being clean swept 3-0 in the ODI series and losing the T20I series 2-1, the team now faces disciplinary action from the ICC. Every player involved in the third ODI at Bay Oval has been fined 5% of their match fees due to a slow over-rate violation — adding further embarrassment to an already humiliating campaign.

ICC Slaps Fines After Repeated Offense

The punishment came after Pakistan, led by Mohammad Rizwan, was found one over short of the required rate in the final ODI. This marks the third consecutive match in which Pakistan has been penalized for the same offense. Umpires Chris Brown, Paul Reiffel, Michael Gough, and Wayne Knights collectively cited the team, and Rizwan accepted the charge. Match referee Jeff Crowe then imposed the fine.

The repeated violations have sparked criticism of the team’s discipline and on-field planning, with experts and fans questioning the overall management and tactics used throughout the series.

A Tour to Forget

Pakistan’s tour, which ran from March 16 to April 5, saw them win just one out of six matches. After narrowly losing the T20I series 2-1, Pakistan failed to show any fight in the ODIs, suffering heavy, one-sided defeats in all three games.

Fans and analysts alike have labeled the performance as "shameful," with the team appearing disorganized and uninspired on the field.

Rizwan's PSL Remark Adds Fuel to the Fire

Following the series defeat, Rizwan made headlines for the wrong reasons. In a post-series comment, he said:

“Now we will leave all this behind and enjoy the PSL. It’s a big tournament for Pakistan. Hopefully, we will do well there.”

This remark triggered backlash among fans, who felt the captain was too quick to move on from a humiliating international performance. Social media erupted with criticism, with many calling his attitude careless and disrespectful to the national jersey.