Mohammad Nawaz handed ICC ban after positive doping test

After testing positive for a prohibited substance during the men's T20 World Cup earlier this year, Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz received a three-month ban for violating the ICC Anti-Doping Code. However, the sanction has effectively been served following a reduced period of ineligibility.

Following Pakistan's match against the Netherlands in the 2026 T20 World Cup on February 7 in Colombo, the ICC reported that Nawaz had a positive test result for carboxy-THC, which is considered a Substance of Abuse under its Anti-Doping Code. The 32-year-old admitted to breaking the law and proved that the substance was taken out of competition and had nothing to do with improving athletic performance.

His ineligibility, which began on May 1 when he voluntarily accepted a provisional suspension, was reduced to one month after he committed to finishing a substance abuse treatment program that had been approved by the ICC.

Having already spent two and a half months under provisional suspension, Nawaz's suspension has now been lifted. He will not be required to serve any additional periods of ineligibility if the treatment program is successfully completed.

Under the ICC Anti-Doping Code, Nawaz's individual records from Pakistan's match against Netherlands on February 7, along with those from any subsequent matches until the commencement of his provisional suspension on May 1, have been disqualified.