MSD gets one-game ban for slow over rate

Brisbane: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been banned for one ODI after his side was fined for a second minor over rate offence within a year during the tri-series match against Australia in Brisbane on Sunday.

The Indian side was ruled to be two overs short of their target at the end of the match against Australia when time allowances were taken into consideration.

Andy Pycroft of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed a 40 percent fine on Dhoni, while each of the Indian players received 20 percent fines.

Dhoni was banned after his side was fined for a second minor over rate offence within a year.

Dhoni has been suspended from India's tri-series game on Tuesday against Sri Lanka, also in Brisbane, as this was India's second minor over rate offence after they were fined for slow over rate in the 2011 World Cup final against Sri Lanka in Mumbai on April 2.

In humid conditions in Sunday's day-night match at the Gabba, India's pacemen struggled with cramps and the fielders committed basic errors as Australia blasted 100 runs in the last 10 overs to reach 288-5.

India, who could only manage 178 in reply with Dhoni leading the scoring with a defiant 56, are due to play Sri Lanka at the same venue on Tuesday. The match is important, with all three teams still in content_cnion for a spot in the finals series.

The charge was laid by on-field umpires Steve Davis and Billy Bowden, both from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, as well as third umpire Bruce Oxenford and fourth umpire Paul Reiffel, under tough guidelines adopted last June aimed at trying to prevent bowling teams from ambling through their overs.

Dhoni pleaded guilty to the charge and the subsequent penalties were accepted both by Dhoni and India. As such there was no need for a formal hearing.

The Indian captain also acknowledged that he had been kept informed of the position regarding over rates on a regular basis throughout the match and therefore accepted the decision.

This is Dhoni's second suspension on the ongoing Australian tour as he was banned for one match in the preceding Test series as well, after India's slow over rate during the third match in Perth. Virender Sehwag had to stand-in as captain in place of Dhoni in the fourth Test against Australia in Adelaide. He is likely to again stand in as captain if he overcomes the back problem that has kept him out of India's last two ODIs.

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