Sharma shamed

5 February 2008

Rohit Sharma © Getty Images

India batsman Rohit Sharma has been fined 10 per cent of his match fee after he was found guilty of breaching the ICC's code of conduct during his team’s washed out one-day international against Sri Lanka in Brisbane.

The 20-year-old attended a hearing immediately after the match after both on-field umpires, Rudi Koertzen and Steve Davis, referred an incident following Sharma’s dismissal to the ICC match referee Jeff Crowe.

Sharma was charged under clause 1.3 of the ICC code of conduct which refers to “showing dissent at an umpire's decision” after being given out caught behind off the bowling of Muttiah Muralitharan for a second-ball duck.

In explaining his decision after the hearing, Crowe said: “In the pre-series briefing, it was made very clear to the three team managements what was expected of them and their players in the one-day series.

“The teams were told in detail about various clauses of the ICC code of conduct, including clause 1.3.

“There was a lengthy delay after Rohit Sharma finally departed the crease when he was given out. When the umpire's finger goes up, the batsman must go without delay, regardless what he thinks of the decision.”

The match was abandoned due to rain before Sri Lanka had a chance to reply to India’s 267 for four.