ICC hands Mohammad Nawaz three-month anti-doping suspension

DUBAI: Pakistan spin-bowling all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz has accepted a three-month suspension for breaching the ICC Anti-Doping Code, which will be reduced to one month upon the successful completion of a substance of abuse rehabilitation programme.

The 32-year-old tested positive for Carboxy-THC, classified as a Substance of Abuse under the ICC Anti-Doping Code, following a doping test conducted after Pakistan's ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 match against the Netherlands in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 7 February.

Nawaz admitted the anti-doping rule violation and established that the prohibited substance had been used out of competition and in a manner unrelated to sporting performance.

As a result, he was handed a three-month period of ineligibility, backdated to 1 May 2026, the date on which he voluntarily accepted a provisional suspension.

After accepting the sanction and committing to the rehabilitation programme, Nawaz's provisional suspension has now been lifted, having already served two and a half months of the suspension.

Provided he completes the substance of abuse rehabilitation programme to the ICC's satisfaction, Nawaz will not be required to serve the remainder of the three-month period of ineligibility.

In accordance with the ICC Anti-Doping Code, Nawaz's results from Pakistan's T20 World Cup match against the Netherlands on 7 February, along with all subsequent matches played before 1 May 2026, have been disqualified.