Hussain warned over dissent

England captain Nasser Hussain Tuesday escaped punishment but received a warning from an International Cricket Council match referee for showing dissent over an umpiring decision.

Hussain made his displeasure obvious when he was given out leg before wicket for one run in the third and final one-day match against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Monday.

ICC match referee Barry Jarman called Hussain and team officials for a hearing after the match and cautioned him, England officials said.

Hussain lingered at the crease after Pakistani umpire Mohammad Aslam raised his finger to a ball from pace bowler Wasim Akram which pitched well outside the leg stump and swung in.

Television replays showed him shaking his head and muttering, apparently to himself, virtually the whole way back to the pavilion.

"I repeat I will not comment on umpiring decisions on this whole tour and you guys saw replays, you write what you have seen," he told reporters when asked about the decision after the match.

It was the first and only leg before decision in the three-match series which Pakistan won 2-1.

ICC match referees are empowered to fine or suspend a player for showing dissent against umpiring decisions.

The English players have been directed not to react to umpiring decisions during the tour, the first in Pakistan by an England team in 13 years.

Their last tour to Pakistan was marred by a row between Pakistani umpire Shakoor Rana and then England captain Mike Gatting.

Mail Cricket Editor