Ponting fined after umpire incident

Ricky Ponting will face an ICC disciplinary hearing over his discussion with the umpires regarding Aftab Ahmed's dismissal © Getty Images

Ricky Ponting has been fined 25% of his match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the second Test against Bangladesh at Chittagong. The offence related to his reaction when Bangladesh batsman Aftab Ahmed was initially given not out following a referral to the third umpire during Sunday's first day of the Test.

Ponting was found guilty of dissent by the match referee, Jeff Crowe, in a hearing after the second day's play on Monday. He was found to have breached 1.3 of the ICC Code which relates to "Showing dissent at an umpire's decision by action or verbal abuse."

In explaining his decision, Crowe said: "Although I have sympathy for Ricky I cannot accept his move towards the on-field umpires as they made a move towards resuming play.

"He did not ask for the third umpire to be consulted but when he made that move and spoke to the officials I believe his involvement played a part in prompting the referral. That is a breach of the ICC's Test match playing conditions, which states that players may not appeal to the umpire to use the replay system."

The two umpires - Aleem Dar and Ian Howell - had not raised the issue and it was Bangladesh who took the matter further. Earlier, Crowe had cleared up how the event unfolded: "I think he [Ponting] indicated that the word that came from the Bangladesh dressing-room was that he was out and he was just inquisitive as to what went on," he was quoted as saying by Fox Sports. "But it was not a direct ask that the umpires should review the decision or go upstairs.

"It was a communication problem really," Crowe added. "In fairness, what we had to say that with the referral upstairs, it should have been highlighted what they really wanted. The number three umpire [...] is not the most fluent in English, although he is a very good man and does communicate well, he wasn't sure really about what they wanted at that point.

"That's why after what was done, when the decision was first given, the umpires down below weren't sure he got the right information, or understood what was required. Once they found that information out - that the ball had hit the boot - that's all they needed to confirm what they thought. That's why it was reversed."

Meanwhile, Crowe also commented on the Australian team's interactions with Dar, noting that there were a few issues the team needed to sort with the umpire. Lee had an animated conversation with Dar after the umpire apparently asked him to move away in his follow through, while Stuart MacGill too expressed his displeasure after a couple of lbw appeals had been turned down in an over.

"The fact that it has been a long tour for everyone and given the fact there is a bit of cabin fever with Aleem Dar having been involved in Australian matches over the last six months, I think they need to sort it out," Crowe was quoted as saying in Sun Herald. Dar has seen a lot of the Australian side lately, officiating in 13 Tests since July 2004, and in 12 ODIs over the last six months involving the Australians.