32.5.2008

Sourav Ganguly and Shane Warne have been fined 10% of their match fees, while Pratap Kumar, the on-field umpire, has been suspended for a game following the controversy during Thursday's IPL match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals.

Ganguly asked Kumar to refer a decision to the third umpire after he wasn't convinced about a catch taken by Rajasthan's Grame Smith at the deep midwicket boundary. Asad Rauf, the third umpire, ruled in favour of the batsman after replays weren't entirely conclusive. In his post-match comments, Shane Warne, the Rajasthan captain, hit out at Ganguly's behaviour and condemned his attitude towards the IPL's Spirit of Cricket agreement.

Farrokh Engineer, the match referee, ruled that Ganguly's act of asking the umpire to refer a decision constituted a Level I offence according to the ICC's Code of Conduct. Warne wasn't spared either, though - he was found guilty of violating Section 1.7 of the ICC's Code of Conduct, which deals with 'public criticism of, or inappropriate comment on, a match-related incident or official.' The referee also ruled that there was no reason for Kumar to accede to the plea to refer the decision, and hence suspended him for a game.

Kumar is the second umpire to be suspended in the IPL. Amiesh Saheba was suspended for two matches following his comments about Sreesanth's behaviour to Mumbai Mirror, a tabloid.

Courtesy - cricinfo