Munaf fined, Bhajji, Steyn reprimanded

Visakhapatnam, Apr 10:

Mumbai Indians paceman Munaf Patel has been fined 25% of his match fee while captain Harbhajan Singh has received an official warning and reprimand for breaching Indian Premier League (IPL) Code of Conduct during Game 9 of IPL 5 against Deccan Chargers here at the ACA-VDCA Stadium on Monday night.

Deccan Chargers' Dale Steyn also was handed an official warning and reprimand for Level 1 offence. Munaf also received an official warning and reprimand.

Munaf and Harbhajan admitted to Level 1 offence. It was related to showing dissent at umpires' decision. Both Munaf and Harbhajan accepted their verdicts from match referee Graeme Labrooy of Sri Lanka.

Munaf and Harbhajan were involved in the controversial dismissal of Deccan captain Kumar Sangakkara. The left-hander was initially given not out by the square-leg umpire Johan Cloete of South Africa even though Sangakkara was clearly bowled by Munaf. India's Anil Chowdhury was the other on-field umpire.

Harbhajan and later Munaf confronted the umpires questioning their decision to not use television replays for coming to a decision.

The umpires finally did consult the TV umpire and the Deccan skipper was declared out.

"Mumbai Indians player Munaf Patel was fined 25 per cent of his match fee and received an official warning and reprimand for breaching the DLF Indian Premier League Code of Conduct during his team's match against Deccan Chargers in Vishakhapatnam on Monday night," an official release from the IPL organisers said.

"Mumbai Indians captain Harbhajan Singh received an official warning and reprimand for breaching the DLF Indian Premier League (IPL) Code of Conduct during the same match," it added.

In the same match, Deccan Chargers pacer Dale Steyn also received an official warning and reprimand for the Level 1 offence (Article 2.1.6) of pointing and gesturing towards the pavilion after the dismissal of T Suman in the second over of the Mumbai Indians innings.

 Steyn admitted the offence and accepted the sanction. All of the three cases were dealt with by Match Referee Graeme La Brooy in accordance with the IPL Code of Conduct and being Level 1 breaches, his decision in each case is final and binding.