Munaf fined, warnings for Harbhajan and Steyn

Munaf Patel, the Mumbai Indians seamer, has been fined 25% of his match fee for violating the IPL's code of conduct during the match against Deccan Chargers on Monday. His captain Harbhajan Singh and Chargers' Dale Steyn received official warnings and reprimands for their conduct in the same match. Munaf was also warned and reprimanded.

According to a statement from the IPL, all three players admitted to Level 1 offences and accepted their sanctions.

Munaf and Harbhajan were charged with showing dissent to the umpire over the dismissal of Kumar Sangakkara in the 13th over of Chargers' innings. Sangakkara's bails had been dislodged by an inside edge off a low full toss bowled by Munaf, but the ball also deflected back to the stumps off the wicketkeeper's pads. The keeper Dinesh Karthik was up to the stumps and the stumps were broken in one motion, causing confusion. The umpires initially gave Sangakkara the benefit of the doubt, choosing not to refer it to the third umpire.

The Mumbai players were peeved, particularly Munaf, who flung the ball on the turf as he ambled back to his mark. A furious Harbhajan Singh marched to the square leg umpire Johan Cloete, who was soon enveloped by Munaf and Dinesh Karthik, all three demanding the decision be referred. Sangakkara was eventually given out after the decision was referred.

Chargers' coach Darren Lehmann termed Mumbai Indians' behaviour "disgraceful". "It [arriving at the decision] could have been handled better. But the decision has been made, we can't do anything about it. What was disgraceful was the way Mumbai carried on towards the umpires," Lehmann said after the match. "The two gentlemen that are officiating in the game [are] trying to do the best they can to see that the game is run in the best way. What I saw tonight was nothing short of disgraceful."

Shaun Pollock, Mumbai Indians' mentor and bowling coach, said while the reaction was not "ideal", such incidents can be very frustrating for the bowler. "Actually I did not see what went on because I had run inside to see the replay, [to see] whether he [Sangakkara] was out or not," he told PTI. "Obviously their behaviour wasn't ideal because they got hauled in before the match referee, fined a match fee and given a reprimand.

"[But] it's very frustrating when you bowl someone and the umpires are not giving you that wicket. I think they [the umpires] both consulted and when they both weren't sure, it would have made things a bit easier if they had gone upstairs [to the TV umpire]. I think you can understand the players... wanting the wicket of Sangakkara, it was a big wicket."

Steyn was warned for pointing and gesturing towards the pavilion after the dismissal of T Suman in the second over of Mumbai Indians' innings.

All the offenses were dealt with by match referee Graeme Labrooy, whose decision is final and binding.