World T20 snapshots: South Africa fined for slow over-rate

South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis was fined 40 per cent of his match fee while his teammates copped a 20 per cent fine each for maintaining a slow over-rate during their World Twenty20 match against New Zealand on Monday.

ICC Match Referee Javagal Srinath imposed the fines after Plessis’ side was ruled to be two overs short of its target when time allowances were taken into consideration.

In accordance with the regulations of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel governing minor over-rate offences, players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount.

If du Plessis is found guilty of one more minor over-rate offence in T20Is over the next 12 months, he will receive a one-match suspension as per the provisions of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel.

Pakistan's young batsman Umar Akmal says his match-winning 94-run knock against Australia in the World Twenty20 was his ‘best’ so far and hoped it will prove to be a turning point in his career.

"I love this game and I want to establish myself in all three formats and I know this will only be possible if I can get runs consistently. Hopefully this innings against Australia definitely the best of my career will now prove to be a turning point in my career," he said.

The 26-year-old has played 16 Tests, 94 ODIs and 54 T20 matches and has long been considered as an exceptional talent in Pakistan cricket but never lived up to the expectations until he started to score consistently since the Asia Cup in Bangladesh where he also got a hundred.

"I wanted to do well against Australia and the team management told me to go and play my natural game and not get worried about getting out. Thankfully everything clicked for me," he said.