/ 6 January 2011

Fined Sreesanth apologises for angry kick

Fined Sreesanth Apologises For Angry Kick

India bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth has been fined 10% of his match fee for kicking the boundary rope in frustration during the third and final Test against South Africa, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said.

The temperamental paceman pleaded guilty to a charge that related to “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings”, the ICC said in a statement.

“As Sreesanth accepted the decision without contest, there was no need for a hearing.”

A frustrated Sreesanth kicked the rope on Wednesday after he had two leg-before wicket appeals turned down in the previous over, an incident he went on to regret on Thursday.

“I think it was anger at the spur of the moment and I’m sorry for that,” the bowler told Ten Cricket channel. “I’m lucky it’s just a 10% fine and I thought it could be a ban or something. I was worried but thank God …”

Sreesanth had a fiery exchange of words with South African skipper Graeme Smith during the Durban Test and the bowler said he had been “woken up” by that altercation. — Reuters