Pollock fined his entire match fee for dissent

Shaun Pollock, the former South African captain, has been fined his entire match fee for showing dissent during the third ODI against Pakistan at Faisalabad on Oct 7. Mark Boucher, South Africa's vice-captain, was let off a charge of using obscene language because of a lack of evidence.

Clive Lloyd, the former West Indies captain who is the ICC match referee for the current series, held the hearing after Tuesday's match. In attendance were Pollock, Boucher, the two coaches - Pakistan's Javed Miandad and Eric Simons of South Africa - and the team managers Haroon Rashid and Cassim Docrat.

Darrell Hair, the Australian umpire, complained that Pollock showed dissent after a rejected appeal during the match, which South Africa eventually won by 13 runs on the Duckworth/Lewis method after bad light forced an early end to the game in the eastern industrial city of Faisalabad.

"Pollock has been fined under Level 2.2 of the ICC Players Code of Conduct after he showed dissent," confirmed a Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman.

"There was no evidence found against Boucher so he was exonerated," added the spokesman. Shoaib Malik, the Pakistan fielder, had complained that Boucher used abusive language when he was walking back to the pavilion following his dismissal.

"It is important that players do not show any dissent to umpires," said Lloyd. "Umpires have a difficult enough task as it is and players must learn to respect their authority."

Lloyd added: "We have so far witnessed three closely contested matches in front of big crowds, and I hope that the rest of the series will be played in the right spirit by both sides."

Lloyd decided not to fine Pakistan for their slow over rates in the third match, despite their failure to complete the quota of 50 overs by the cutoff time. But each member of both teams was fined 10% of match fee for the slow over rates in the second one-dayer at Lahore. The two captains - Inzamam-ul-Haq and Graeme Smith - received 20% fines.

Pakistan decided not to complain about an incident during the second one-dayer when the South African allrounder Andrew Hall seemed to elbow Yousuf Youhana as he completed a single. The pair then also had a verbal exchange. That matter may not be closed, though: the ICC isto look at video footage of the incident.

The five-match series, which Pakistan currently lead 2-1, continues on Friday (Oct 10), and concludes on Sunday. The final two games are both being played at Rawalpindi.