NEW DELHI: As if their most devastating loss to
South Africa
in the opening Test at
Centurion
was not enough, India were fined 10% of their match fees and lost two significant
World Test Championship
(
WTC
) points.
India lost the first of the two Test matches in South Africa by an innings and 32 runs, exhibiting a complete and utter capitulation in the span of three days.
"Chris Broad of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after India were ruled to be two overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration," the ICC said in a release on Friday.
As per the Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which is in context 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 stipulated time.
Additionally, one point per each over short is docked by the ICC for its WTC, which means India lost two points.
"India captain
Rohit Sharma
pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing," the ICC added.
On-field umpires
Paul Reiffel
and
Langton Rusere
, third umpire
Ahsan Raza
, and fourth umpire Stephen Harris all made the accusations.
With 16 points and a PCT of 44.44 before to the penalty, India was ranked fifth in the points standings.
With a PCT of 38.39 after the penalty, they are now ranked sixth, below Australia. Before leaving for home, India will play one more Test in South Africa.
(With PTI inputs)