According to an ICC media release, the 32-year-old left-arm spinner returned a positive test for Carboxy-THC after Pakistan's T20 World Cup 2026 match against the Netherlands in Colombo on February 7. Nawaz admitted the offence and demonstrated that the substance had been used out-of-competition and in a manner unrelated to sporting performance — a distinction the ICC's own classification system draws between performance-enhancing substances and what it terms "substances of abuse."

As a result, Nawaz has accepted a three-month period of ineligibility, backdated to May 1, 2026 — the date he began a voluntary provisional suspension. That period will be reduced to just one month once he completes a substance abuse treatment programme to the ICC's satisfaction. Having already served two and a half months under the voluntary suspension, his ban has now been lifted, and he will face no further period of ineligibility provided he completes the required treatment programme.

In line with the ICC's Anti-Doping Code, Nawaz's match records between February 7 and May 1 have been disqualified as a consequence of the finding. He had played all seven of Pakistan's matches during their T20 World Cup campaign, and continued turning out for Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League through the period covered by the suspension, with his most recent PSL appearance coming on April 29 — matches that will now be affected by the same record disqualification.

The timing worked out relatively favourably for Pakistan's international schedule: the team had no white-ball commitments during Nawaz's period of ineligibility, limiting the practical disruption to the side. Nawaz remains primarily a white-ball specialist for Pakistan — while he has played six Test matches in his career, his last Test appearance came nearly four years ago. The Pakistan Cricket Board declined to offer official comment when approached on the matter.

With the suspension now lifted and the reduced ineligibility period tied to his treatment programme, Nawaz is expected to be available for Pakistan's white-ball commitments going forward, pending completion of the ICC's required process.