DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday reprimanded Pakistan cricket team for maintaining a slow-over rate during the first one-day international (ODI) against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi on November 11.

According to the apex cricketing body, the Green Shirts were fined 20% of their match fee after they were ruled to be four overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration.

ICC Panel of Match Referees’ Ali Naqvi imposed the sanction in accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences.

Players are fined 5% of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.

The charge was levied by on-field umpires Alex Wharf and Asif Yaqoob, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, and fourth umpire Rashid Riaz.

ICC said that there was no need for a formal hearing after Pakistan captain Shaheen Afridi accepted the proposed sanction.

Pakistan lead the three-match series 1-0 after they beat Sri Lanka by six runs in Tuesday’s series opener.

Salman Ali Agha’s unbeaten century and Hussain Talat’s fifty lifted Pakistan to 299 for five in their allotted 50 overs.

The Green Shirts then restricted Sri Lanka to 293/9 in their allotted 50 overs despite Wanindu Hasaranga’s gutsy half-century.

Pacer Haris Rauf starred with four wickets, Faheem Ashraf and Naseem Shah picked up two each, while Mohammad Nawaz chipped in with one.

The second game will be played on November 14 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a revised schedule for the series.

The revised schedule comes a day after a deadly blast in Islamabad, which left 12 dead and over 30 injured.

As per the new schedule, the third and final ODI between the two sides will be played on November 16 at the same venue.

The two games were previously scheduled for November 13 and November 15 at the same venue.

Lamine Yamal and Max Dowman share one crucial quality, according to Spain and Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya — the ability to play football like “they are playing at school.”

Yamal, 18, and Dowman, 15, are two of the world’s most talented wingers, albeit at different stages of their careers. Yamal was a Ballon d’Or runner-up this year and is a key player for club and country, while Dowman has only made five senior appearances for Arsenal.

The England youth international is tipped for big things, however, and while Raya refused to compare the pair’s ability in an exclusive interview with ESPN, he did share similarities on how they play the game.

“I would not ever compare two players, even less two players with that quality. They are two very different players,” Raya said. “But where they are similar is that when they go out onto the pitch, they enjoy it. They are always playing with a smile that it seems that they are playing in the school.

“They go out there to play, to have a good time. It is clear that they compete to help the team, but that naturalness in the way they play football, and at the level they’re playing, is incredible.”

Raya went on to hail Dowman’s ability at such a young age.

“He’s 15, he’s turning 16 at the end of the year,” he added. “He’s incredible.

“Obviously, we don’t share that much in the dressing room because he’s not allowed with the rules and everything. But sharing the pitch is the maturity that he shows on the pitch, the willingness that he has just to enjoy and to be himself, to take on players, and always with a smile on his face is incredible.

“We’ve been trending with him since he was 14 years old, so very impressed with him and his quality his qualities as a player.”

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Raya has established himself a key cog in Arsenal’s defensive machine since joining the club in 2023, although there was a rumour that Madrid were interested in the Spain international following a ACL injury to Thibaut Courtois. But Raya joined Arsenal — initially on loan — while Madrid instead signed Kepa Arrizabalaga.

“I know that there is that rumour, but exactly when Courtois gets injured there, I am doing the medical exam with Arsenal already,” Raya explained. “So, there was no way that if Madrid had called … well it would have been very difficult for me to leave for Madrid. I think there was a rumour, but I have no knowledge of it.

“The only contact I received from Madrid was when I had my serious injury and I really appreciate it a lot. When I had the knee injury, they sent me a letter saying they hope that I recover very well they sent lots of strength. The truth that it is a gesture very good on their part, that they don’t have the reason to do it, but the truth is that I appreciated it a lot.”

There are several ways that one could react upon watching David Rodriguez rise through a thick blanket of snow to net the equalising goal for Atlético Ottawa in Sunday’s Canadian Premier League final.

The most likely of which would be some kind of incomprehensible noise of appreciation at the 23-year-old Mexican’s ability to get up despite the slippery conditions, swing his boot over his head and rocket a bicycle kick off the underside of the crossbar and into the back of the net.

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Very quickly, however, your focus would almost certainly come to settle on the thick blanket of sleet that was covering the pitch, in combination with the heavy flurry continuing to fall, and wonder just how, even allowing for the hardy winter reputation of the Canadians, a game of football could be played in such conditions. Up to 20cm of snow hit Ottawa over the course of Sunday, but with a postponement out of the question, snowploughs were called into action throughout the day to try and clear the pitch and allow for an eventually delayed kickoff in the Canadian Premier League decider.

Once play actually began — the orange winter ball behaving as one would expect in the conditions — proceedings were frequently stopped by the match officials to allow for clearing to ensure the pitch markings remain visible. At one point Ottawa goalkeeper Nathan Ingham even picked up a shovel to help clear the field and get play moving once more. A shouting match then broke out between Atlético coach Diego Mejia and opposition Cavarly FC boss Tommy Wheeldon Jr over the absence of substitutes on the former’s bench.

GOAL 🦖

DAVID RODRIGUEZ ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!!

BICYCLE KICK GOAL IN THE 2025 CANADIAN PREMIER LEAGUE FINAL TO LEVEL THINGS UP FOR @atletiOttawa 🤯🤯🤯

🔴 Watch the #CanPL final LIVE on OneSoccer, TSN & FuboTV pic.twitter.com/4RhNsBI4zH

— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) November 9, 2025

Citing the example of participants at the FIFA Club World Cup leaving their substitutes in the dressing room to avoid the heat, Atlético had instructed their reserve players to remain inside to avoid the fierce elements at kickoff, which Wheeldon Jr took issue with. The referees eventually sided with the Cavalry boss, and the Atlético bench returned to the frozen tundra that was TD Place.

Given the scenes, let alone the spectacular nature of Rodríguez’s goal, the game has already been touted as one that will go down in Canadian footballing folklore. The … icing … on the cake also came from Rodríguez: the 23-year-old popped up again in extra-time to chip Cavalry keeper Marco Carducci and secure his side the North Star Cup, as well as a berth in the Concacaf Champions Cup.