Dubai, Apr 1 (UNI) Pakistan have been fined 10 per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate against New Zealand in the first ODI at Napier on March 29.

Jeff Crowe of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after Pakistan, led by Mohammad Rizwan, was found to be two overs short of the required target after

time allowances were taken into account.

In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which pertains to minimum over-rate offences, players are penalized five percent

of their match fee for each over their side fails to bowl within the allotted time.

Rizwan accepted the sanction and pleaded guilty to the offence, eliminating the need for a formal hearing, an ICC media statement said.

The charge was leveled by on-field umpires Chris Brown and Paul Reiffel, along with third umpire Michael Gough and fourth umpire Wayne Knights.

New Zealand produced a solid performance in the ODI series opener, cruising through to a 73-run win in Napier.

Led by a blazing ton from Mark Chapman, the hosts put 344/9 on the board, and Nathan Smith's career-best figures bundled out Pakistan for 271.

The second ODI takes place on Wednesday in Hamilton.

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