ISLAMABAD (AP) — The International Cricket Council banned Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz for three months on Friday for breaching its anti-doping code.
But the ban was backdated to May 1, 2026, when Nawaz’s voluntary provisional suspension started, the ICC statement said.
“Nawaz admitted the offense and demonstrated that the substance had been used out-of-competition and in a manner unrelated to sport performance,” the ICC said.
“The 32-year-old tested positive for a Substance of Abuse (Carboxy-THC) under the ICC Anti-Doping Code following a doping test carried out after the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 match against the Netherlands in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 7 February.”
The ICC said that since Nawaz accepted the sanction and also committed to the rehabilitation program, the all-rounder’s “provisional suspension has been lifted after having served a two and a half month suspension.”
If Nawaz completes the rehabilitation program to the ICC’s satisfaction, he will not be required to serve the remaining half month of the three-month period of ineligibility.
Nawaz has primarily contributed to white-ball cricket for Pakistan and played in all seven games of the T20 World Cup.
He played in six test matches, but his last five-day game was four years ago against England in Multan.
He took 150 wickets in 44 ODIs and 98 T20s with his left-arm spin bowling. He also scored 911 runs in T20s and 538 runs in ODIs.
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FILE -Pakistan's Mohammad Nawaz celebrates the wicket of United States' Andries Gous during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Pakistan and the United States in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena, File)
SOUTHPORT, England (AP) — Jackson Suber showed some nerves as the British Open leader in his debut, and then plenty of resolve Friday when he recovered from three straight bogeys for a 1-under 69. The way Royal Birkdale was playing, it wasn't enough to stay atop the leaderboard.
Lucas Herbert of Australia got off to a stunning start in only a mild breeze with a 28 on the front nine that tied the British Open record by Denis Durnian in 1983 at Royal Birkdale.
Herbert was 8 under for the round through 14 holes and had another par 5 still to play, putting him in position to break the major championship record of 62 set by Branden Grace of South Africa at Royal Birkdale in 2017.
And it was still early in the second round.
Patrick Reed, the American who leads the Race to Dubai on the European tour, was 6 under through 14 holes and also challenging records. Reed shot a 59 when he won the Hong Kong Open in 2024.
Rory McIlroy was 2 under for the day — back to level for the championship — but not getting as much out of his round as so many others.
Suber was a surprise leader because he had never played links golf until a practice round Monday at Royal Birkdale — he had never even been to Europe — and he has yet to win as a professional. He opened with a 65 for a one-shot lead.
Playing early on Friday, he birdied the second until it started to fall apart on him. Suber had consecutive three-putt bogeys on the sixth and seventh holes. He ran into trouble in the rough and made a third straight bogey on the eighth.
But he settled himself with a birdie on the 10th and 11th holes, and picked up one more birdie on the par-5 17th when he reached the front of the green in two shots.
At that point, it was all he could do to keep up with Herbert.
The Australian opened with three straight birdies, and he drove to the edge of the 321-yard fifth hole for an easy birdie. His one long putt came from 35 feet for birdie on the par-3 seventh, and he holed from 25 feet off the green at the ninth.
Scores have been coming down in golf as a natural evolution of the game. Grace was the first to reach 62 in a major in the third round at Birkdale in 2017. Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler each shot 62 at the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club. Schauffele and Shane Lowry each shot 62 at the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla.
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland tees off the 7th hole during the second day of the British Open Golf championships at Royal Birkdale golf club, in Southport, England, Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
Patrick Reed of the United States chips onto the 18th green during the first day of the British Open Golf championships at Royal Birkdale golf club, in Southport, England, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
Jackson Suber of the United States looks down as he walks off the 7th green during the second day of the British Open Golf championships at Royal Birkdale golf club, in Southport, England, Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Lucas Herbert of Australiaplays off the 13th tee during the second day of the British Open Golf championships at Royal Birkdale golf club, in Southport, England, Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Lucas Herbert of Australia with his caddie Nick Pugh, look at the 13th hole from the tee during the second day of the British Open Golf championships at Royal Birkdale golf club, in Southport, England, Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Scottie Scheffler of the United States reacts after putting on the 6th green during the first day of the British Open Golf championships at Royal Birkdale golf club, in Southport, England, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts after putting on the 18th green to complete his first round during the first day of the British Open Golf championships at Royal Birkdale golf club, in Southport, England, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
Jackson Suber of the United States putts win the 18th green during the first day of the British Open Golf championships at Royal Birkdale golf club, in Southport, England, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
Jackson Suber of the United States, and his caddie Greyson Porter walks towards the 18th green during the first day of the British Open Golf championships at Royal Birkdale golf club, in Southport, England, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
