Pointing fined 100% of match fee for breaching code of conduct

Kuala Lumpur, Sep 12 (UNI) Australia's captain Ricky Ponting was fined today 100 per cent of his match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during his country's ODI against the West Indies.

Ponting was found guilty of breaching level 1.3 of ICC Code, which relates to 'showing dissent at an umpire's decision' by action or verbal abuse', by the Match Referee Chris Broad in a hearing after play concluded here.

Because this was the player's second such offence in the past 12 months -- the other one took place during the second Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong in April -- his punishment was automatically raised to a level 2 offence.

The charge related to Ponting's reaction to the calling of a wide by umpire Asad Rauf in the 33rd over of the West Indies innings, as he responded by walking up to the official from his fielding position to query the decision.

''A captain should set the example for his players to follow and it is not acceptable for any player, let alone a captain, to question an umpire's decision,'' Broad said in a statement.

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