India captain Virat Kohli has been fined 25 per cent of his match fee and received one demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the third day’s play in the second Test against South Africa at Centurion on Monday, January 15.
Kohli was found to have breached Article 2.1.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game.”
ALSO READ: Murali Vijay-Dinesh Karthik in playing XI? Twitterati say ‘awkward’ moment for Team India
Monday’s incident happened in the 25th over of South Africa’s second innings when Kohli continued to complain to umpire Michael Gough about the ball being affected by a damp outfield following a rain delay, before throwing the ball on the ground aggressively.
BREAKING: Virat Kohli has been fined for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct.
More __ https://t.co/zRJ74iOlX1 pic.twitter.com/xMH5dTKQsi
— ICC (@ICC) January 16, 2018
After the day’s play, Kohli pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Chris Broad of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing.
ALSO READ: Selectors ask Dinesh Karthik to replace Wriddhiman Saha ahead of 3rd Test, here’s why
The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Michael Gough and Paul Reiffel, third umpire Richard Kettleborough and fourth umpire Allahudien Palekar.
Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 percent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.
Meanwhile, South Africa has taken a healthy 150-run lead on Day 4. AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar is batting on 50+, with both players looking set for a hundred.
