Indian bowler fined for breaching ICC code-of-conduct

ISLAMABAD: India bowler, Praveen Kumar, has been fined 20 percent of his match fee after pleading guilty to a Level 1 breach of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Code of Conduct during England's innings on the first day of the second Test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.

Kumar was found to have breached Article 2.1.3 of the code which relates to arguing or entering into a prolonged discussion with the umpire about his decision, says a ICC press release issued on Saturday.

After play concluded for the day, the player admitted the offence and accepted the proposed sanction offered to him by Ranjan Madugalle the chief referee of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees. As such, there was no need for a formal hearing.

The charge had been laid by the on-field umpires Asad Rauf and Marais Erasmus and third umpire Billy Bowden of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires as well as fourth umpire Tim Robinson.

The charge related to an incident at the end of the 18th over of the day during which Kumar had an appeal for leg before wicket against England batsman Kevin Pietersen turned down and at the end of the over he then engaged in a debate with umpire Marais Erasmus about the decision.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011