Andre Nel, the South African bowler, has been fined 20% of his match fee for breaching the ICC's Code of Conduct during the 5th ODI between South Africa and India at Mumbai on November 28.
Jeff Crowe, the ICC Match Referee, concluded that Nel was guilty of using foul language - a breach of ICC Code 1.4 - after conducting a hearing with Nel, Graeme Smith, and Goolam Rajah, the South African team manager, after the match. ICC Code 1.4 relates to "using language that is obscene, offensive or insulting" which includes swearing in frustration at one's own poor play or misfortune. "While not wanting to stifle the character of a lively player such as Andre, his explicit obscene language that was witnessed by TV viewers is unacceptable," Crowe said in an ICC media release.
All Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50% of a player's match fee. The charge was brought by Daryl Harper and Hariharan Krishna, the on-field umpires, as well as Ivaturi Sivaram, the TV umpire , and Ravi Subramanium, the fourth umpire .
