Cricket:England's Graeme Swann has been fined 10 per cent of his match fee after being found guilty of breaching the ICC's Code of Conduct during yesterday's World Cup loss to Bangladesh in Chittagong.
A frustrating night under the lights of the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium contained a heated exchange between Swann and umpire Daryl Harper, as the off-spinner struggled to grip a ball drenched with dew.
Strauss had to calm Swann down — but the 31-year-old has been charged with a level one offence under article 2.1.4 of the code which relates to ‘using language or a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting during an international match’.
Swann pleaded guilty to the charge, which was brought by onfield umpires Rod Tucker and Harper and third umpire Aleem Dar — and as such there was no requirement for a full hearing.
Jeff Crowe, of the elite panel of ICC match referees, said of the incident: “Graeme became frustrated and upset at the condition of the second ball in use during the Bangladesh innings.
“His comments to the onfield umpires during the 26th over of the innings were unacceptable and an over later Graeme, realising this, made a genuine apology to the umpires for his actions.
“While it was recognised that, because of the dew, this was a difficult period to be in the field it is also a fact that these conditions are not uncommon on the sub-continent.
“At the conclusion of the match Graeme accepted the sanction and there was no need for a full hearing.”