[www.inewsguyana.com] – West Indian All Rounder Kieron Pollard has been fined for an altercation between himself and Australian pace man Mitchell Starc during an Indian Premier League match on Tuesday, May 06.
Pollard, playing for the Mumbai Indians lost some lost 75% of his match fee while Starc, who plays for the Royal Challengers Bangalore saw half of his fee taken away by match referee Andy Pycroft.
Both players admitted to level 2 offences under the IPL’s code of conduct, Pollard charged under article 2.2.7 of the code, which deals with, “throwing a ball (or any other item of cricket equipment such as a water bottle) at or near a player, team official, umpire, match referee or any other third person in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner during a match.”
On the other hand, Starc was charged under article 2.2.11, which deals with, “where the facts of the alleged incident are not adequately or clearly covered by any of the above offences, conduct that either: (a) is contrary to the spirit of the game; or (b) brings the game into disrepute.”
The incident occurred in the 17th over of Mumbai’s innings where Starc sent a steaming bouncer at Pollard, who was beaten at all ends attempting the hook shot, barely pulling his head out of the way.
Starc went up to the batsman and spoke a few words and Pollard’s reaction was to wave him off.
As Starc’s next delivery was about to be bowled, Pollard opted out of his stance to move away to the leg side, and instead of Starc aborting, he sent another ripper like a seeker missile down to Pollard’s leg.
Pollard responded by swinging his bat hard – appearing to threaten to throw it at the bowler – and it slipped out of his hand and fell on the leg side.
Both players were visibly angry and continued to exchange words and Starc later ran Pollard out.
