Another match-fixing scandal in Pakistan cricket? Deliberate slowdown to knock Scotland out sparks controversy

Pakistan Under-19’s controlled run chase against Zimbabwe at the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 has triggered intense debate after Scotland were eliminated on net run rate. While Pakistan won comfortably, their deliberate slowdown raised questions about exploiting tournament rules, sporting ethics, and whether the ICC needs structural reform. Pakistan chased 129 in 26.2 overs in Harare, but the real story unfolded between overs 16 and 25. During that phase, Pakistan scored just 27 runs in 10 overs despite being well ahead of the required rate. The timing directly affected which team qualified alongside them, turning a routine group match into a global talking point.

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