Brisbane, Jan 20: Indian vice-captain Rahul Dravid has been fined 50 per cent of his match fee for "changing the condition of the ball" by match referee Clive Lloyd after India beat Zimbabwe by 24 runs in a day-night game of the tri-series here tonight. According to team sources, Dravid was having a jelly in his mouth and accidentally applied it on the ball which was caught by Lloyd and third umpire Peter Parker on television.

The onfield umpires Steve Davs and Rudi Koertzen, it is learnt, did not lay the charges.

The hearing was attended by Dravid, coach John Wright, manager Shivlal Yadav and captain Sourav Ganguly, according to sources.

Lloyd rated it a breach of ICC code of conduct under Law 42.3, a level two offence which demanded a level two penalty - that is a fine up to 50 per cent match fee.

Dravid was charged under the ICC code of conduct, specifically clause 2.10.

Dravid attended a hearing after the match and was subsequently informed of the penalty.

Bureau Report