7 April 2008

West Indian captain Chris Gayle has been fined 70 percent of his match fee by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after a code of conduct breach and allowing his side to bowl their overs too slowly during the second Test against Sri Lanka in Trinidad.

A statement from the ICC said that Gayle had violated the code relating to fair play and that his side were six overs short of the required over-rate, an offence to which Gayle pleaded not guilty.

West Indies won the match by six wickets on the fourth day, levelling the series 1-1.

The hearing was conducted by ICC match referee Chris Broad, and he said, "Slow over-rates are not fair to the opposition or the paying spectators and captains have a responsibility to ensure their players adhere to the regulations in that regard," in a statement.

The other members of the West Indian team were fined 35 percent of their match fees.

West Indies take on Sri Lanka in three One Day Internationals, the first of which takes place on April 10th in Trinidad.

Sri Lanka In West Indies 2007/8