ISLAMABAD – Just months after representing Pakistan on world stage, Mohammad Nawaz has found himself at the center of an anti-doping controversy as the all-rounder has been handed a three-month ICC suspension, while all of his cricketing performances between February and May 2026 have been wiped from the official record, marking a dramatic twist in his international career.
Nawaz has been suspended for three months after breaching the ICC Anti-Doping Code, with the governing body also disqualifying all of his cricketing results recorded over a nearly three-month period.
The 32-year-old returned a positive test for a prohibited substance after undergoing an anti-doping screening on 7 February 2026, immediately following Pakistan’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup clash against the Netherlands in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
He admitted to the anti-doping violation but maintained that the substance had been consumed outside of competition and in a non-sporting setting. He insisted it was never intended to enhance his performances on the field.
In its ruling, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed that Nawaz’s three-month suspension was backdated to 1 May 2026, the date he voluntarily accepted a provisional suspension. Under the ICC Anti-Doping Code, athletes who promptly acknowledge a violation and complete an approved rehabilitation programme may receive a reduced period of ineligibility.
Having already served around two and a half months under the provisional suspension, Nawaz will not face any further time away from cricket, provided he successfully completes the rehabilitation programme.
While the reduced sanction allows the Pakistan all-rounder to return sooner than expected, the disciplinary action comes with a significant sporting consequence. The ICC has nullified all of Nawaz’s individual cricketing results recorded between 7 February and 1 May 2026, effectively erasing every performance he produced during that period from the official record.
The ruling brings an end to the anti-doping proceedings but delivers a major setback for one of Pakistan’s most experienced all-rounders. It also serves as another reminder of the ICC’s strict enforcement of anti-doping regulations, regardless of whether a prohibited substance is taken inside or outside competition.
