By Reuters

This article was published on 17 Jul 202617 Jul 2026.

The ICC's anti-doping regulations prohibit the use of cannabis-related substances, categorizing them as substances of abuse.

The ICC has sanctioned Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz with a three-month ban after a positive test for a cannabis-related substance, which can be reduced if he completes a rehabilitation programme, the governing body announced on Friday.

Nawaz admitted the violation and demonstrated that the substance had been used out of competition in a manner unrelated to sporting performance, the ICC said in a statement on Friday.

Nawaz, 32, tested positive for Carboxy-THC, a metabolite of THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis, following Pakistan's T20 World Cup match against the Netherlands in February. Carboxy-THC is classified as a Substance of Abuse under the ICC's Anti-Doping Code.

The all-rounder was handed a three-month suspension, backdated to May 1, the date he started a voluntary provisional suspension.

The ICC said that after serving about two and a half months under the provisional suspension and agreeing to undergo rehabilitation, his provisional suspension had been lifted.

The governing body added that, in line with its anti-doping code, Nawaz’s records from the Netherlands match on February 7 and subsequent matches until May 1 have been disqualified.

Nawaz featured in all seven of Pakistan’s matches at this year’s men’s T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka, from their opening game against the Netherlands through the Super Eights stage, where they were eliminated. He scored 15 runs and took seven wickets in the tournament.

Nawaz's three-month suspension has been backdated to May 1, the date he began a voluntary provisional suspension. He has already served about two and a half months of that ban and has agreed to undergo rehabilitation, leading to the lifting of his provisional suspension. Additionally, his records from the Netherlands match on February 7 and subsequent matches until May 1 have been disqualified under the ICC's anti-doping code.