Dhaka (Bangladesh), Jan. 7 : Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful and wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim have both been fined after breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the third day’s play in the second Test against Sri Lanka.

Ashraful has been fined 15 per cent of his match fee while Mushfiqur has been fined 50 per cent of his match fee.

An ICC press release said the penalties were handed down by Jeff Crowe of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees on Wednesday following hearings which were held in Chittagong on Tuesday after the conclusion of the Test which Sri Lanka won by 465 runs.

Ashraful was found to have breached Level 1.5 of the code which relates to “excessive appealing” while Mushfiqur was found guilty of a charge under Level 2.5 of the code which deals with “charging or advancing towards the umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing”.

The charges were laid by the two on-field umpires Steve Bucknor of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and Nigel Llong of the Emirates International Panel of ICC Umpires, third umpire Nadir Shah, who is also a member of the international panel, and fourth umpire Anisur Rahman.

Both breaches occurred after the first ball of the 78th over of Sri Lanka’s second innings when Mushfiqur’s appeal for a caught behind against Sri Lanka batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan off the bowling of Mehrab Hossain Junior was turned down.

After the appeal was rejected, Mushfiqur ran towards the umpire while appealing before stopping about six metres in front of the batsman while Ashraful started appealing from his place at midwicket and finished near to the pitch, about 20 metres from his original position.

Ashraful was fined after Mr Crowe had spoken to him following similar actions in the first Test. During the second Test, the match referee was also forced to speak to Bangladesh openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes following similar conduct, something the on-field umpires had also had words with them about at the time.

Commenting on his findings, Mr Crowe said: “Mohammad Ashraful is the captain of the team and needs to lead with responsibility and patience when an umpire is making a decision.

“Having spoken to him earlier in the series about a similar reaction, he was fully aware of what was acceptable and therefore, pleaded guilty to the charge.

“Mushfiqur conceded in the hearing that it was unacceptable behaviour when he clearly left his position from behind the stumps, charged and ended up appealing some six metres away directly towards the umpire. This sort of appealing is intended to place unnecessary pressure on the umpire and has no place in the same.”

The hearing was attended by the players charged, as well as Bangladesh manager Shafique Haque, coach Jamie Siddons and the four umpires.

All Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of a fine equivalent to 50 per cent of a player’s match fee while Level 2 breaches carry a minimum penalty of a fine of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee up to a fine of all that fee and/or a one-Test match or two-ODI ban.

A player does have a right of appeal in the case of Level 2, 3 and 4 offences. Such an appeal must be lodged in writing with the ICC’s legal counsel within 24 hours of the decision being handed down. (ANI)