New Zealand bowler Kyle Mills has been fined 20 per cent of his match fee for two breaches of the ICC Code of Conduct during his team's ODI against Pakistan at Abu Dhabi on Monday.
Mills had originally been charged will three Level 1 offences, contrary to Section 2.1.3 of the code, which relates to "showing dissent at an umpire's decision"; Section 2.1.4 of the code, which relates to "using language or a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting"; and Section 2.1.5 of the code, which relates to excessive appealing.
The charges were laid by on-field umpires Bruce Oxenford and Nadeem Ghauri as well as third umpire Zameer Haider and fourth official Ahsan Raza.
Mills pleaded guilty to using obscene language but not-guilty to the other two charges.
Following a hearing, which was convened by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees, Mills was found guilty of two out of the three charges.
In addition to the charge of using obscene language, Pycroft found Mills guilty of excessive appealing but not guilty of showing dissent at an umpire's decision.
The offences relate to an incident that took place in the 49th over when the 30-year-old pace bowler appealed for a caught-behind decision with left-handed No 10 batsman Mohammad Aamer facing.
The bowler celebrated without waiting for the umpire's decision and then, once the umpire had given his decision of 'not out', Mills was heard using offensive language.
Following the hearing, Mills was fined 10 per cent of his match fee for swearing and an additional 10 per cent for excessive appealing, a total of 20 per cent.
"I fully accept it was a crucial moment in the match and the player was caught up in that excitement," said Pycroft in explaining his decision.
"However, his actions went far beyond what is acceptable behaviour on the cricket field. He was heard to use an offensive expletive and clearly he was guilty of excessive appealing by celebrating a dismissal before the umpire had given his decision.
"I am content to dismiss the charge of dissent because I feel it is tied up with the other two offences and so it would be unfair to charge him with that as well. The fines are on the low side because of Kyle's good conduct in recent times and the fact that he is a senior member of a team that has shown itself to play consistently within the spirit of the game," he said.
