Mumbai all-rounder Kieron Pollard has been fined 25% of his match fee for breaching the Indian T20 League Code of Conduct after a disagreement with the umpire’s decision during the final against MS Dhoni’s team Chennai at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
AFP / Noah Seelam
While batting during the final over, Pollard – who was celebrating his 32nd birthday on Sunday – expressed his discontent towards umpire Nitin Menon’s decision of not signalling for wide. In protest, the towering all-rounder threw his bat in the air before taking the crease for the next ball way away from the stumps; near the wide-line.
Menon, and his fellow umpire, Ian Gould decided to intervene and after a series of chat, the game resumed, and Mumbai went on to register a respectable 149/8. Pollard, on his part, remained Mumbai’s top scorer with 41 runs off 25 deliveries.
Acting against Pollard’s action, the Indian T20 League hierarchy have decided to fine him 25% of his match fee. "Kieron Pollard, the Mumbai all-rounder, was fined 25% of his match fee for showing dissent at an Umpire's decision during the Indian T20 League 2019 Final in Hyderabad. Mr Pollard admitted to the Level 1 offence 2.8 of the tournament Code of Conduct for Players and Team Officials and accepted the sanction," read an official statement read.
"For Level 1 breaches of the tournament Code of Conduct, the Match Referee's decision is final and binding."
Meanwhile, Mumbai went on to successfully defend their total and lifted their fourth Indian T20 League title by mere one run.
