England, 2-0 up in the five-match ODI series against Pakistan after three games, will be without Eoin Morgan when they take the field at Trent Bridge to try and wrap up the series, after their captain was suspended for one match for the team’s slow over-rate in the third ODI in Bristol.
After batting first in Bristol, Pakistan finished on 358 for 9 and England crossed the mark with 31 balls remaining for a six-wicket win. After the game, England were deemed to be two overs short after time allowances were taken into consideration, and match referee Richie Richardson, in accordance with Article 2.22.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players, imposed the sanction.
Morgan had been found guilty of a similar offence during the Barbados ODI against West Indies on February 22, and since this was the second such infraction within a 12-month period, he had to accept the ban as well as a fine of 40% of his match fee. The other members of the playing XI had to cough up 20% of their fees too.
Jonny Bairstow, the Man of the Match for his 93-ball 128 in the chase, was also pulled up after the match. Paul Reiffel and Michael Gough, the on-field umpires for the game, and Chris Gaffaney, the third umpire, charged him with misconduct.
Bairstow, after he was dismissed in the 29th over of the England innings, struck the stumps with his bat, and therefore breached Article 2.2 of the ICC Code, which relates to “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an international match”.
One demerit point has been added to Bairstow’s disciplinary record – it was his first offence since the introduction of the revised Code in September 2016.
The fourth ODI will be played on Friday, and the final game is scheduled for Headingley on May 19.