Kohli fined for breaching ICC code

DAMBULLA - Indian batsman Virat Kohli has been fined 15 per cent of his match fee for breaching the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) code of conduct during his team’s ODI fixture against New Zealand Wednesday.

Kohli, who was dismissed in the sixth over, stood his ground and looked at the umpire for a considerable time before eventually leaving the pitch.

“This was considered to be a show of dissent, a fact accepted by the player himself. Kohli pleaded guilty and accepted the proposed sanction and there was no need for a formal hearing,” match referee Alan Hurst said in a statement Thursday.

“He was found to have breached (2.1.3 of the code) which relates to showing dissent at an umpire’s decision.”

The charge was brought by on-field umpires Asad Rauf and Asoka de Silva, third umpire Kumar Dharmasena and fourth official Gration Liyanage.

“Accepting umpires’ decisions is part and parcel of playing cricket and on this occasion Virat clearly showed dissent when he had been given out,” said Hurst.