Slow overrate: Dhoni banned for one Test

Perth, Jan 15 (IBNS) The India team has been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during the third Test against Australia in Perth, Western Australia, and as this is the second offence within 12 months India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been suspended for the next Test match in line with the ICC Code of Conduct.

At its meeting in June 2011 in Hong Kong, the ICC Executive Board had discussed the issue of slow over-rates and accepted the recommendation of the ICC Cricket Committee that a captain of an international side should be suspended for one match if his side is guilty of two minor over-rate offences in the same format over a 12-month period.

The charge was laid by on-field umpires Aleem Dar and Kumar Dharmasena, both from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, as well as third umpire Paul Reiffel and fourth umpire Mick Martell.

Ranjan Madugalle, chief ICC Match Referee, imposed the fines after India was ruled to be two overs short of its target at the end of the match after time allowances had been taken into consideration.

In accordance with ICC Code of Conduct regulations governing minor over-rate offences, players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount.

As such, Dhoni was suspended for the next Test match and also fined 40 per cent of his match fee while the other players received 20 per cent fines.

The offence is contrary to Article 2.5.1 of the Code which relates to over-rate offences. Dhoni pleaded guilty to the charge and the subsequent penalties were accepted both by Dhoni and India.

As such there was no need for a formal hearing. Dhoni also acknowledged that he had been kept informed of the position regarding over-rates on a regular basis throughout the match and therefore accepted the decision.

India crashed to their third successive embarrassing loss in Australia as they went down by an innings and 37 runs in the third Test that ended before tea on the third day at the WACA Ground here Sunday.

India, who were trailing by 208 runs, were bowled out for 171 runs in the second innings for their seven successive away Test loss. India were bowled out for 161 runs in the first innings.