Pakistani cricketer, who scored 225 runs, fined 10% match fee along with his team

Dubai: Pakistan’s domestic cricket is giving spotlight to some players who many may not be aware of. Mohammad Taha is one such star who produced a marathon innings of 225 runs during Pakistan Television’s (PTV) second-round Presidents Trophy Grade-I match against State Bank of Pakistan at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium.

Taha faced 362 balls and struck 22 fours and two sixes as he put together one of the standout individual performances of the round. His innings helped PTV overtake SBP’s 433 run innings, by taking a 36 runs lead in the first innings.

However, the big-scoring performance was followed by a setback for Taha and his teammates. The Pakistan Cricket Board later announced on their website that PTV had been found guilty of a minimum over-rate offence during the match.

The offence was recorded under Article 2.22 of the PCB Code of Conduct for players and player support personnel. The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Saqib Khan and Farooq Ali.

As a result, every member of the PTV playing XI, including Taha and their captain Taimur Khan, was fined 10 per cent of their applicable match fee. While Taha may not be at fault, yet according to the law he gets fined.

PTV also lost one point from the total they had accrued after the first two rounds of the competition.

Taha did not get the chance to add to his score in PTV’s second innings, with the match ending up as a draw. His 225, scored in 481 minutes, remained his only innings of the game.

For Taha, the match will be remembered for a remarkable individual effort, but also for the team penalty that followed. PTV now look to take on Hyderabad Kingsmen Academy on September 24 in the next match of the President’s Trophy Grade-I.