Mohammad Nawaz handed three-month ICC ban over anti-doping violation

Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz has been handed a three-month suspension by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after admitting to an anti-doping rule violation during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

The ICC said Nawaz tested positive for Carboxy-THC, following Pakistan’s World Cup match against the Netherlands in February.

The substance is classified as a “Substance of Abuse” under the ICC Anti-Doping Code.

According to the governing body, Nawaz admitted the violation and established that the substance had been used out of competition and was unrelated to enhancing sporting performance.

As a result, the ICC imposed a three-month period of ineligibility, backdated to May 1, 2026, when the player voluntarily accepted a provisional suspension.

The ICC added that the sanction can be reduced to one month upon successful completion of a substance abuse treatment programme.

Having already served around two and a half months under provisional suspension and agreed to undergo rehabilitation, Nawaz’s provisional suspension has now been lifted.

In line with the ICC Anti-Doping Code, all of Nawaz’s individual results from Pakistan’s match against the Netherlands on February 7 until May 1 have been disqualified.

Nawaz featured in all seven of Pakistan’s matches during the 2026 T20 World Cup, scoring 15 runs and taking seven wickets as the team reached the Super Eights before being eliminated.