Pakistan cricketer or all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz has received a three-month ban for breaching the ICC Anti-Doping Code, as unveiled by a media release on July 17, Friday. The spin-bowling all-rounder has received a backdated ban of 1 May 2026 but it is slated to be reduced to one month following the completion of a substance of abuse treatment programme.
The 32-year-old tested positive for a Substance of Abuse (Carboxy-THC) under the ICC Anti-Doping Code following a doping test carried out after the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 match against the Netherlands in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 7 February.
Nawaz admitted the offence and demonstrated that the substance had been used out-of-competition and in a manner unrelated to sport performance. As a result, he has been handed a three-month period of ineligibility, backdated to 1 May 2026, being the date he started a voluntary provisional suspension, and reduced to one month on the completion of a substance abuse treatment programme, according to the ICC media release.
Further to accepting the sanction and committing to the substance abuse treatment programme, Nawaz’s provisional suspension has been lifted after having served a two-and-a-half (2 1/2 ) month suspension. Subject to Nawaz completing a substance of abuse treatment programme to the ICC’s satisfaction, Nawaz will not be required to serve any further period of ineligibility, according to the ICC media release. As required by the ICC Anti-Doping Code, Nawaz’s records from the match against the Netherlands on 7 February and in subsequent matches until 1 May 2026 have been disqualified.
When did Mohammad Nawaz last play competitive cricket?
The 32-year-old last played competitive cricket during the 2026 edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), plying his trade for the Multan Sultans. The match was the Eliminator between the Multan Sultans and the Hyderabad Kingsmen. The match saw Nawaz make 18 off 19 deliveries with three boundaries and concede 19 off the only over he bowled as the Sultans lost by eight wickets to be eliminated from the tournament.
It remains unclear when will the veteran next play for Pakistan, given his flailing performances in international cricket in recent times.
(With inputs from ANI)
