Pieterson fined 30 percent match fee for dissent

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali, Indo-Asian News Service

Mohali, March 13 (IANS) England's Kevin Pietersen was Monday fined 30 percent of his match fee for dissenting with an umpire's decision during the second Test against India here.

'Pietersen was charged with breaching Level 1.3 of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Code of Conduct by the on-field umpires Darrell Hair and Simon Taufel and TV umpire A.V. Jayaprakash after he showed dissent upon being given out on day four of the match,' said an ICC statement received here.

'He subsequently pleaded guilty to breaching the ICC Code at a hearing conducted by ICC match referee Ranjan Madugalle (of Sri Lanka),' it said.

Pieterson was given caught out by India captain Rahul Dravid at the slip off off-spinner Harbhajan Singh in the second innings at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium Sunday.

After being declared out, Pieterson showed his right forehand to the umpire, implying that he had not touched the ball with his bat before he left shaking his head.

After Sunday's play, Madugalle summoned the videotape of the dismissal and called for a hearing after the game Monday.

'The hearing was attended by Pietersen, England captain Andrew Flintoff, coach Duncan Fletcher and the match umpires,' said the release.

Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of a 50 percent fine of a player's match fee.

For Level 1 breaches of the ICC Code of Conduct the ICC match referee's decision is final and binding.

India won the match by nine wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

The third and final Test starts in Mumbai Saturday.

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