Pollard, Proteas fined for breaching ICC Code of Conduct

Dubai, May 22 (ANI): West Indies batsman Kieron Pollard has been fined 25 per cent of his applicable match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during his team's second Twenty20 International match against South Africa in Antigua.

According to an ICC press release, Pollard was charged with a Level 1 offence under article 2.1.8 of the code which relates to conduct contrary to the spirit of cricket. The charge was laid by on-field umpires Norman Malcolm and Clyde Duncan as well as third umpire Goaland Greeves.

The player pleaded guilty to the charge and accepted the proposed sanction offered to him by Roshan Mahanama of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees at the conclusion of the match.

The incident took place in the 18th over of the West Indies innings when Pollard ran towards the non-striker's end in such a way that he impeded the bowler's path to the ball.

"A competitive attitude is to be promoted and cherished on the cricket field but players must also remember at all times to play within the spirit of the game," said Mahanama.

"On this occasion Kieron has overstepped the mark and I have fined him 25 per cent of his match fee, a penalty that he has accepted."

Offences included in Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct can range from an official reprimand up to 50 per cent of his or her match fee. The full text of the code can be found at http://icc-cricket.yahoo.net/rules_and_regulations.php.

The South Africa team too has been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during its 13-run victory over West Indies in the first Twenty20 International in Antigua on Wednesday.

Mahanama imposed the fines after Graeme Smith's side was ruled to be one over short of its target at the end of the match when time allowances were taken into consideration.

In accordance with ICC Code of Conduct regulations governing minor over-rate offences, players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount.

As such, Smith has been fined 20 per cent of his match fee while his players receive 10-per-cent fines. Smith was guilty of a similar offence in T20Is during the ICC World Twenty20 2010 and, under the terms of the ICC Code of Conduct, if he is guilty of three in total in this format of the game over a 12-month period, he will automatically receive a one-match suspension.

The offence is contrary to Article 2.5.1 of the code which relates to minor over-rate offences. The penalty was accepted by South Africa without contest so there was no need for a hearing. (ANI)