Harmanpreet Kaur’s team fined by ICC

The Indian Women’s Cricket team has been fined for maintaining a slow over rate during the third One Day International (ODI) against Australia. The International Cricket Council (ICC) imposed a 10 percent deduction from the players’ match fees after India bowled two overs fewer than the scheduled number within the allocated time. The decision was announced by GS Lakshmi, a member of the ICC International Panel of Match Referees.

According to the ICC, the penalty is in line with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which states that teams will incur a five percent fine of the match fee for every over short of the scheduled number bowled within the stipulated time. India’s captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, acknowledged the slow over rate, and the ICC confirmed that no formal hearing was required before imposing the fine.

The series saw the Australian Women’s team touring India, playing three ODIs against the hosts. India won the second ODI, while Australia won the first and third matches, claiming the series 2-1. In the third ODI, despite Smriti Mandhana’s stellar century of 125 runs, India lost to Australia by 43 runs.

Looking ahead, the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup is scheduled to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. India will open its campaign on September 30 in Guwahati against Sri Lanka, while Australia will face New Zealand the following day in Indore.

The ICC’s directive underscores the importance of maintaining over rates within the prescribed time limits, reinforcing the need for teams to manage on-field strategies efficiently. While the penalty affects the match fees of players, it does not impact the series outcome or rankings.

The Indian Women’s Cricket team has consistently performed at the international level, and upcoming fixtures in the ICC Women’s World Cup will provide opportunities to regain momentum following the series loss to Australia.