Pakistan’s Mohammad Nawaz was punished for violating the International Criminal Court’s anti-doping code

Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz has accepted a sanction under the ICC Anti-Doping Code after testing positive for a banned substance during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The 32-year-old left-arm spinner has been given a three-month ban, although the suspension could be reduced to one month after successfully completing a substance abuse treatment programme.

Nawaz tested positive for Carboxy-THC, classified as a “substance of abuse” under the ICC Anti-Doping Codefollowing a doping test conducted after Pakistan’s World Cup match against the Netherlands in Colombo on February 7. Spiner pleaded guilty and proved that the substance was taken out of competition and in a way unrelated to the enhancement of athletic performance.

The ICC said Nawaz’s period of ineligibility was backdated to May 1, 2026, the date he voluntarily accepted the interim suspension. According to the governing body, the punishment may be reduced provided the Pakistan cricketer successfully completes a treatment program approved by the ICC.

NAWAZ AVOIDS LONGER BAN AFTER ADMITTING OFFENSE

With Nawaz serving two-and-a-half months on a temporary suspension, he is unlikely to miss any further cricket if he meets the ICC’s rehabilitation requirements. The governing body confirmed his suspension had been lifted after he accepted the sanction and agreed to treatment.

“In addition to accepting the sanction and committing to a substance abuse treatment program, Nawaz’s provisional suspension has been lifted after he has served two and a half (2) months of his sentence,” the ICC said in a statement.

“Provided Nawaz completes a substance abuse treatment program to the ICC’s satisfaction, Nawaz will not be required to serve any further periods of ineligibility.”

In accordance with the requirements of the ICC Anti-Doping Code, Nawaz’s records from Pakistan’s encounter with the Netherlands and all subsequent matches up to May 1 were disqualified. The all-rounder has been under investigation since April, with reports at the time suggesting his planned stint with Surrey in the England T20 Blast had fallen through due to an ongoing anti-doping process.

Nawaz, who made his international debut in 2016, has been a key member of Pakistan’s white-ball set-up over the past decade. The Rawalpindi-born cricketer has represented his country in all three formats and played an important role in Pakistan’s run to the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals in Australia.

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Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

17 Jul 2026 14:57 IST