Bengal's young batting talent Manoj Tiwary was today docked 50 per cent of his match fee for repeatedly arguing with the umpire after falling to a debatable leg before decision in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group B tie against Uttar Pradesh here.
Match referee I S Sachdev announced the quantum of punishment after a hearing with Tiwary in the presence of Bengal captain Laxmi Ratan Shukla, manager Samir Dasgupta and the two umpires S D Ranade and Ravi Subramanyam on the opening day of the match yesterday.
"This is a level I offence. If he repeats it within a year, then that will be upgraded to level II and he would lose his full match fee or even can be banned," Sachdev said.
The incident occurred in the pre-lunch session yesterday when Tiwary was given out by Ranade off Praveen Kumar even as as the ball appeared to have struck his pad off the bat.
Tiwary lost his cool and was seen arguing with Ranade and gesticulating at him as the other umpire Ravi Subramanyam stepped in to cool tempers. Tiwary argued with Subramanyam too before he started the long trek back to the pavilion.
There was more to follow as the batsman was again seen arguing with the umpires who were coming out of the ground at the lunch break.
{{/usCountry}}There was more to follow as the batsman was again seen arguing with the umpires who were coming out of the ground at the lunch break.
{{/usCountry}}Ranade and Subramanyam tried to cool down Tiwary as they went into the pavilion.
Earlier, Tiwary was nearly timed out when he took his own time to arrive at the crease at the fall of Bengal's third wicket. Ranade was seen talking to Tiwary, who chose to ignore him and took guard.