Melbourne: International Cricket Council (ICC) had fined Australian Batsman David Warner for on-field dispute with Indian Batsman Rohit Sharma during ODI in Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.
Australia won a thrilling match by four wickets but the result was marred by another ugly spat between the teams.
While talking to media on Monday, Warner said that he had been fined half his match fee for breaching the sport’s code of conduct for arguing with Sharma.
The incident was triggered when India took a single off an overthrow. Warner thought the ball had deflected off Sharma and the Indians should not have taken the run, in accordance with cricketing convention.
The dispute of Sharma with Warner and television replays later showed he was right and the Indians were entitled to take the run.
Meanwhile Warner later admitted he was wrong about the call but defended his actions and telling Sharma to “speak English”.
On Sky Sports Radio on Monday, Warner said, “When I went over to say something to him, he sort of said something in their language and I said; ‘speak English’ because, if you’re going to say something, understand that theoretically I cannot speak Hindi.”
He said, “I did the polite thing and asked him to speak English, therefore he did and I can’t repeat what he said.”
Warner admitted, “I was in the wrong … I shouldn’t have engaged him.” “(But) If people get on the wrong side of me, I’m not going to back down”, he added.
He said, “We’re always there to play hard aggressive cricket, but you know what comes with that — sometimes you are going to get fined.”
India is the defending champions of World Cup while Australia is chasing a fifth title and both teams are currently warming up for the tournament in a three-team series also involving England.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni played down the latest incident, saying his team paid no attention to Warner’s outburst.
Captain Cool Dhoni said, “He (Sharma) didn’t react inside the dressing room so I think he was fine. I didn’t even bother to ask what really happened.”
Bureau Report
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