Dambulla (Sri Lanka), May 11: Sri Lankan seam bowler Prabath Nissanka was today fined 20 per cent of his match fee for misconduct during the ongoing triangular limited-over series. Nissanka, playing in his 18th one-dayer, was ruled guilty of misconduct following an inquiry by match referee Gundappa Viswanath, who penalised him for dissenting against the umpire's decision during the tri-series opener against Pakistan yesterday.
The Sri Lankan cricket board said today that Viswanath, the International Cricket Council series representative, had acted on a complaint received from umpires Simon Taufel of Australia and Peter Manuel of Sri Lanka.
Nissanka was charged with showing his displeasure at umpire Taufel turning down the appeal for a catch against Pakistan opener Taufeeq Umar. The appeal was made during the second over of the match, Nissanka's first, but television replays confirmed the umpire was right in judging that the ball had gone off Umar's pad.
"The match referee gave Nissanka a severe reprimand and imposed a fine of 20 per cent of his match fee," said a statement released by the Sri Lankan board.
Pakistan won the match by 79 runs. New Zealand is the third team featuring in the tri-series, which involves a double-leg preliminary league followed by a final showdown between the top tow sides.
The clause deals with showing dissent at the umpire's decision by action or verbal abuse.
Bureau Report