The International Cricket Council (ICC) said Sunday it fined and reprimanded Sri Lanka middle-order batsman Dinesh Chandimal and Pakistani opener Mohammad Hafeez for violating its code of conduct. “In separate incidents, both players were found to have breached article 2.1.3 of the code which relates to showing dissent at an umpire’s decision,” the ICC said in a statement. “After play concluded, the players admitted the offences and accepted the proposed sanctions offered to them by match referee Andy Pycroft. As such, there was no need for formal hearings”. The charges had been laid by on-field umpires Ahsan Raza and Zameer Haider, the statement added. Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in the only Twenty20 match in Abu Dhabi on Friday, to add to their 1-0 victory in the preceding three-Tests and 4-1 win in the five-match one-day series. In both cases, the charges related to incidents that took place when they were out lbw. Both players showed the bat towards the umpire in displays of dissent “Accepting an umpire’s decision is an essential feature of cricket and part of the game’s unique spirit,” said Pycroft. “These players’ behaviour was not acceptable in any form of cricket and they must take responsibility for what they do.” Chandimal has been fined 10 percent of his match fee while Hafeez has received an official reprimand. The difference in penalty is due to the degree of dissent displayed, said Pycroft, a former Zimbabwe all-rounder.
