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Bopara, Sammy, Samuels Fined For Exchange Of Insults

by John Pennington Monday 10 March 2014

Ravi Bopara (left) and Darren Sammy, as well as Marlon Samuels, have been fined by the ICC

©REUTERS / Action Images

Ravi Bopara, Darren Sammy and Marlon Samuels have been fined for exchanging insults during the first Twenty20 International between England and the West Indies in Barbados.

Prior to the West Indies running out comfortable winners by the margin of 27 runs, the three players were involved in an unseemly exchange during the 12th over of England's innings.

Bopara began by insulting Samuels as he took a single and after Samuels responded in similar fashion, captain Sammy also became involved, trading insults with Bopara.

On-field umpires Joel Wilson and Peter Nero stepped in to intervene, and after all three players pleaded guilty to a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct, they were fined by match referee Andy Pycroft.

Bopara was handed a fine of 25 per cent of his match fee, Sammy was fined 20 per cent and Samuels 10 per cent.

They were found to have breached Article 2.1.8 of the code, which states: "Where the facts of the alleged incident are not adequately or clearly covered by any of the (above) offence, conduct that either: (a) is contrary to the spirit of the game; or (b) brings the game into disrepute".

The second game in the three-match series takes place tomorrow (11th March).