Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz has accepted a three-month period of ineligibility for breaching the ICC Anti-Doping Code. The 32-year-old tested positive for Carboxy-THC, a Substance of Abuse, after Pakistan's ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 match against the Netherlands in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 7 February. His ban has been backdated to 1 May 2026.
Why was Mohammad Nawaz banned?
Nawaz was sanctioned after a doping test taken during the T20 World Cup returned a positive result for Carboxy-THC. He admitted the offence and showed the substance was used out-of-competition and unrelated to sport performance.
Under ICC rules, this allowed his standard sanction to be reduced through a rehabilitation pathway rather than a full ban.
How long is Mohammad Nawaz's ban?
The ICC has handed Nawaz a three-month period of ineligibility. This will be cut to one month once he completes a substance of abuse treatment programme. The suspension is backdated to 1 May 2026, the date he entered a voluntary provisional suspension.
Has Mohammad Nawaz already served part of the ban?
Nawaz voluntarily accepted a provisional suspension before his case was resolved. He has now served two and a half months of that suspension, and it has been lifted following his acceptance of the sanction. He must still complete the rehabilitation programme to the ICC's satisfaction to avoid serving the remaining ineligibility period.
What happens to Nawaz's match results?
In line with the ICC Anti-Doping Code, all of Nawaz's results are affected for a defined period. His performances in the 7 February match against the Netherlands, along with any subsequent matches up to 1 May 2026, have been disqualified. This is a standard consequence under the code once a violation is confirmed.
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