Umar Akmal fined for ignoring umpires

Colombo  : Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal lost half of his match fee for changing his gloves without the umpires’ permission during his team’s World Twenty20 semi-final against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium here.

Umar was fined 50 percent of his match fee after he was found to have breached Article 2.2.11 of the ICC’s Code Conduct, which relates to “conduct contrary to the spirit of the game.” His side lost by 16 runs against Sri Lanka.

In the 17th over of Pakistan’s innings, Umar, at the non-striker’s end, ignored both on-field umpires’ request and went ahead to change his batting gloves.

Why he wanted to change his gloves was not clear.

Match referee Jeff Crowe said: “Respect for the umpires is integral and is something which we always emphasise and encourage.”

“In this incident, Umar showed blatant disregard to both the umpires’ requests, which was offensive and unacceptable from an international cricketer and contrary to our unique spirit, hence a level two charge was laid.”

Umar Thursday pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction so there was no need for a formal hearing.

The charge was laid by on-field umpires Simon Taufel and Rod Tucker, third umpire Ian Gould as well as fourth official Steve Davis.