Trinidad (West Indies), Mar. 10 (ANI): England spinner Monty Panesar has been fined 25 per cent of his match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Team Officials during the fifth Test against West Indies at Trinidad.

Panesar was found guilty of excessive appealing by Alan Hurst of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees in a hearing after the fourth day’s play concluded in Port of Spain. He was found to have breached Level 1.5 of the code after he repeatedly celebrated a dismissal before the decision was made by the umpire.

“Monty Panesar is a very enthusiastic and exuberant bowler and there is nothing wrong with that but on this occasion he has gone too far,” said Hurst.

“On more than one occasion during the day he began celebrating a prospective dismissal rather than appealing and waiting for the decision to be made, thereby not showing due respect for the role of the umpire. He is an experienced player who should know this action is not in the spirit of the game,” he said.

The charge was brought by on-field umpires Daryl Harper and Russell Tiffin, third umpire Aleem Dar and fourth official Clyde Duncan. Mr Hurst reached his decision after a hearing attended by the player, the umpires, England team manager Phil Neale, coach Andy Flower and captain Andrew Strauss.

Meanwhile, England fast bowler Amjad Khan has received a reprimand for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the same match.

The player was also found guilty of excessive appealing by ICC Match Referee Alan Hurst in a hearing after play concluded in Port of Spain on Monday. Like Panesar, Khan was found to have breached 1.5 of the code after he celebrated a dismissal before the decision was made by the umpire.

“This is Amjad Khan’s first Test match and I am willing to accept that he didn’t fully appreciate the importance of adhering to the ICC Code of Conduct,” said Mr Hurst.

“In his defence, he apologised for his actions to the on-field umpire immediately after the incident and again at the hearing. It was an isolated incident but at the same time he has to learn that all players must show due respect for the role of the umpires,” he said.

Again, the charge was brought by all four umpires and Mr Hurst reached his conclusion after a hearing attended by the player, the umpires, Phil Neale, Andy Flower and Andrew Strauss.

All Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee. For Level 1 breaches of the ICC Code of Conduct the ICC Match Referee’s decision is final and binding.

In a third hearing, Stuart Broad of England has been found not to have breached the ICC Code of Conduct after a hearing relating to an incident that occurred during the same match against West Indies.

Broad was found not guilty of making public criticism of match officials. Mr Hurst concluded that he did not breach paragraph 1.7 of the ICC Code which relates to making inappropriate comment on a match-related incident or match official.

“On the evidence presented, the actions of the player did not breach the ICC Code of Conduct,” said Mr Hurst.

“While a comment attributed to Stuart Broad related to match officials and their performance, it was not specific, not perceived as serious in the context of the whole interview quoted and not proven to be an accurate quote. Also, Stuart was clearly positive about the umpires in other interviews conducted after the game on Sunday,” said Mr Hurst.

Present at this hearing were the player, the umpires, Phil Neale, Andy Flower, Andrew Strauss and England media manager Colin Gibson. (ANI)