Mohammad Nawaz faces ICC suspension: What’s the reason and what next?

The International Cricket Council has handed Pakistan allrounder Mohammad Nawaz a three‑month suspension from all forms of cricket after he tested positive for a Substance of Abuse (Carboxy‑THC). However, the ban could be reduced to one month if he successfully completes a rehabilitation programme.

Nawaz failed a dope test conducted after Pakistan’s fixture against the Netherlands at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in Colombo on February 7. In its media release, the ICC confirmed that Nawaz admitted to the offence and clarified that the substance was used out of competition and unrelated to sporting performance.

“Nawaz admitted to the offence and demonstrated that the substance had been used out‑of‑competition, in a manner unrelated to sport performance. As a result, he has been handed three months of ineligibility, backdated to 1 May 2026, being the date he started a voluntary provisional suspension,” the ICC statement read.

The governing body further announced that Nawaz’s provisional suspension has been lifted after he accepted the sanction and committed to the rehab programme. Having already served two and a half months, he will not be required to serve the remainder of the ban if he completes the programme to the ICC’s satisfaction.

In line with its stringent anti‑doping code, the ICC has also disqualified Nawaz’s records from the T20 World Cup match against the Netherlands and all subsequent games he played until May 1.

This episode marks a significant setback for Nawaz, who has been a regular feature in Pakistan’s white‑ball squads. His immediate focus will now be on rehabilitation, with the hope of returning to the national setup once the ICC clears him.

Nawaz has been a reliable option for Pakistan in T20Is. He is not a big turner of the ball, but can be more than a handful on wickets which are conducive to spinners. The southpaw plays as a finisher and has done quite well for the team in the last 12 months.