Team India have been handed a hefty fine for maintaining a slow over rate during the first ODI against New Zealand on Wednesday, January 18, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, according to media reports.
The Men in Blue were found to be three overs behind schedule after time allowances were taken into consideration by match referee Javagal Srinath.
According to Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, players are sanctioned 20 percent of their match fees for every over the side bowl after the stipulated time for the end of the contest.
Team India skipper Rohit Sharma has accepted the charges leveled by on-field umpires Anil Chaudhary and Nitin Menon, third umpire K. N. Ananthapadmanabhan and fourth umpire Jayaraman Madanagopal. As a result, there was no need for a formal hearing.
It is to be noted that the rule to bring in an additional fielder inside the 30-yard circle, which is already set in place for the shortest format, will be implemented after the ODI Super League ends.
Had the field change rule been in place, the Men in Blue would have been in serious trouble, considering the tight nature of the contest and the belligerent form that Michael Bracewell was in.
The hosts eventually etched out a slender win by 12 runs and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Their next encounter will take place at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur on Saturday, January 21.
