Pakistan spin-bowling all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz has accepted a three-month period of ineligibility for breaching the ICC Anti-Doping Code. The International Cricket Council backdated the sanction to May 1, 2026, when Nawaz began a voluntary provisional suspension.
The 32-year-old tested positive for Carboxy-THC, which the ICC classifies as a Substance of Abuse. Officials collected the sample after Pakistan’s T20 World Cup match against the Netherlands in Colombo on February 7.
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Reuters identified Carboxy-THC as a metabolite of THC, the psychoactive component found in cannabis.
ICC Says Substance Was Unrelated to Sporting Performance
The ICC said Nawaz admitted the violation and showed that he used the substance out of competition. It also accepted that the use had no connection with sporting performance.
“Nawaz has accepted a three-month period of ineligibility,” the ICC said and added that the suspension period “will be reduced to one month on completion of a substance of abuse treatment programme for breaching the ICC Anti-Doping Code”.
The ruling gives Nawaz a route to an earlier return. He must complete a substance-of-abuse rehabilitation programme approved by the ICC. The governing body said he had already served about two and a half months under provisional suspension.
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The ICC has lifted that provisional suspension after Nawaz accepted the sanction and committed to rehabilitation. If he completes the programme to the ICC’s satisfaction, he will not serve the remaining portion of the three-month ban.
However, if Nawaz does not complete the programme, his full ineligibility period will continue until August 1, 2026. His eligibility therefore depends on meeting the rehabilitation requirement.
ICC Disqualifies Records From February 7 to May 1
The ICC also disqualified Nawaz’s records from Pakistan’s match against the Netherlands on February 7. The same decision covers his performances in all subsequent matches through May 1.
Reuters reported that Nawaz played all seven of Pakistan’s matches at the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup. Pakistan advanced to the Super Eights before exiting the tournament. Nawaz scored 15 runs and claimed seven wickets during the competition.
Those tournament records now fall within the disqualification period under the anti-doping ruling.
Nawaz is a left-handed batter and slow left-arm orthodox bowler. He made his international debut in 2016 and remains one of Pakistan’s experienced white-ball all-rounders.
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The ICC’s decision distinguishes between a Substance of Abuse and a substance taken to gain a competitive advantage. In Nawaz’s case, the governing body accepted that the use occurred outside competition and had no link to performance enhancement.
The case now moves to the rehabilitation stage. Once Nawaz completes the approved programme, he can return without serving any further ineligibility period.
