Pakistan's Mohammad Nawaz faces sanction following breach of ICC anti-doping rules

Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Nawaz has been sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after testing positive for a cannabis-related substance and breaching the ICC's anti-doping code on Friday.

The left-arm spinner was handed a three-month ban, which can be reduced to a month upon completion of a rehabilitation programme.

Mohammad Nawaz found in breach of ICC's Anti-doping code

According to the ICC's media release, Nawaz tested positive for Carboxy-THC, a metabolite of THC, which is a psychoactive component ​in cannabis. It is classified as a substance of abuse under the ICC's anti-doping code.

The 32-year-old tested positive following a doping test that was taken after Pakistan’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 match against the Netherlands in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on February 7.

More from Firstcricket

Also Read | Endgame for the Hitman in ODIs? Rohit Sharma's future uncertain beyond England tour: Report

Nawaz was handed three months of ineligibility backdated to May 1, 2026, as the date he began the voluntary provisional suspension. The Pakistan cricketer has accepted the sanction and also agreed to undergo rehabilitation.

As a result, his provisional suspension had been lifted.

"Subject to Nawaz completing a 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," the ICC statement mentioned

Some of Nawaz's records are to be disqualified

Nawaz ​featured ⁠in all seven of Pakistan's matches at this year's men's T20 World Cup, from their opening game against the ⁠Netherlands through ​the Super Eights stage, where ​they were eliminated. He scored 15 runs and took seven wickets in ​the tournament.

Also Read | Kotak rubbishes claims of tension between head coach Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli: 'They speak to each other 10 times a day'

The governing body ​added that, in ​line with ⁠its anti-doping code, Nawaz’s records from the Netherlands match on February 7 and subsequent ​matches until May 1 have been disqualified.

(With Agency Inputs)