The International Cricket Council (ICC) has suspended Pakistan Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq for one match and fined 40 percent of his match fee, while his teammates have been fined 20 percent of their match fees for slow over-rate during the first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch. The 41-year-old was set to miss the second Test anyway as he returned to his native country on Sunday evening after the death of his father-in-law.

The suspension was imposed by Richie Richardson, a member of ICC’s match referee’s panel, after Misbah’s team was found to have bowled two overs less than its target of 103 overs after time allowances were taken into consideration. Misbah was previously found guilty of a minor over-rate mistake during the Oval Test against England earlier this year.

As per the rules, two minor offences within a year lead to fines and a suspension from the very next match in the same format. The charge was laid by on-field umpires S Ravi and Ian Gould, third umpire Simon Fry and fourth official Shaun Haig.

This will be only the second time the veteran batsman will miss a game ever since taking charging of the team in 2010. Misbah, who during the first Test became the first Pakistan captain to lead in 50 Tests, could not play against Sri Lanka in 2012 after being suspended for the same reason.

In his absence, vice-captain Azhar Ali is likely to the lead the side. The visitors are trailing the two-match series 1-0 after losing at Christchurch by eight wickets.