KEY POINTS:
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada - Brendon McCullum has been warned to keep his emotions in check now the New Zealand wicketkeeper risks a Cricket World Cup suspension should there be a repeat of his dissent shown to Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf.
McCullum was censured by International Cricket Council (ICC)
referee Mike Procter and fined 20 per cent of his match fee -- about $500 -- for a level one breach of the governing body's code of conduct following New Zealand's six-wicket loss to Sri Lanka at Grenada National Stadium yesterday.
McCullum shook his head in disbelief when Russel (correct) Arnold claimed a bat pad catch after Rauf appeared to have turned down a concerted appeal for leg before wicket by Muttiah Muralitharan.
And when Rauf eventually raised his finger McCullum again appeared mystified by the decision and shook his head again before seeking to clarify why he was out with non-striker Scott Styris.
By failing to mask his disappointment, one of New Zealand's key players now risks a ban if he falls seriously foul of the code of conduct before the tournament ends with the April 28 final in Barbados.
New Zealand team manager Lindsay Crocker confirmed "it had been made clear" to McCullum he had to accept future decisions.
Crocker said in mitigation McCullum had been unclear about how he had been dismissed until he returned to the dressing room.
Confusion initially reigned in the middle after Sri Lankan teammates flocked to Arnold believing he had caught McCullum after the ball had made contact with the bat before rebounding to silly point.
The scoreboard soon confirmed McCullum had been dismissed leg before wicket for one though the ball appeared to pitch marginally outside leg stump.
Replays indicated there had been no contact with McCullum's bat.
"He initially felt he had been given out caught and was disappointed. He asked Scott (Styris) why he was out and was told 'I don't know'," Crocker added.
New Zealand can ill afford any other transgressions from McCullum during their Super Eights clashes against South Africa and Australia before a potential knock-out semifinal on April 24 or 25.
The 111-match veteran is not only in fine form behind the stumps, he is also a pivotal component of the Black Caps hard-hitting lower order -- and the squad does not carry specialist cover should the 25-year-old be injured or suspended.
Lou Vincent's replacement Hamish Marshall would deputise with the gloves if McCullum was unavailable -- a scenario the Black Caps would clearly prefer not to contemplate.
McCullum pleaded guilty to the solitary charge and apologised to the match officials at a hearing last night.
"There is a thin line between disappointment and dissent and Brendon crossed that line," Procter said.
"His reaction was unacceptable but, to his credit, he acknowledged that fact at the hearing and apologised for his conduct," the former South Africa allrounder added.
"We must all be conscious of the fact that this is the biggest tournament in the game with a huge audience and so every player and official must adopt the highest standards of behaviour at all times."
All level one breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player's match fee.
The charge was laid by on-field umpires Rauf and West Indian Billy Doctrove, Pakistani third umpire Aleem Dar and fourth official Mark Benson of England.
Procter reached his conclusion after a hearing attended by the match officials, McCullum, Crocker and New Zealand coach John Bracewell.
It is the third time in four years Procter has adjudicated on a code of conduct hearing involving McCullum -- and the first time he has imposed a penalty.
In December 2004 McCullum was found not guilty of dissent after New Zealand's 17-run Chappell-Hadlee Trophy loss to Australia in Sydney.
McCullum was again mystified after he was given out leg before wicket by Australian umpire Peter Parker despite getting an edge so thick to a Brad Hogg delivery that Adam Gilchrist tried to catch it.
He was also cleared of bringing the game into disrepute by Procter during a one-day match against the West Indies at Eden Park in March last year.
McCullum has also had a strained relationship with the Sri Lankans after he controversially, though legitimately, ran out Muralitharan when the tailender went to congratulate century-maker Kumar Sangakkara before grounding his bat during the first test in Christchurch last December.
- NZPA