Cricket: Ponting fined match fee for dissent

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Australia cricket captain Ricky Ponting has been fined his match fee for dissent towards an umpire in last night's one-day international against the West Indies.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statement that the punishment, imposed by match referee Chris Broad after the close of play in Kuala Lumpur, was made more severe because it was Ponting's second such offence in the past year.

Ponting was fined 25 per cent of his match fee after the second test against Bangladesh in Chittagong in April.

The latest charge came after Australia's captain reacted to the calling of a wide by umpire Asad Rauf in the 33rd over of the West Indies' innings.

The ICC said Ponting responded by walking up to the official from his fielding position to query the decision.

"A captain should set the example for his players to follow and it is not acceptable for any player, let alone a captain, to question an umpire's decision," said Broad.

Australia beat the West Indies by 78 runs in the first match of the tri-series in Malaysia.

- REUTERS