Srinagar: Former Australia spinner Brad Hogg has questioned ICC for imposing fine on England Cricketer Moeen Ali during first Ashes 2023 Test.
Moeen Ali during Ashes opener at Edgbaston in Birmingham was found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct in the match on Day 2. ICC has also fined him 25 per cent of his match fees.
The incident happened in the 89th over of Australia’s first innings on Day 2 when he was seen applying a drying agent to his bowling hand at the boundary line while fielding. It has been revealed that it was to treat a blister.
The veteran breached Article 2.20 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to displaying conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game. He has also been slapped with one demerit point which has been added to his disciplinary record for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct.
Former Aussie cricketer Brad Hogg has said that fine was too harsh.
“25 per cent fine for this is a bit of ‘overspin’ on the issue when you know Moeen was not using it for any other purpose than to prevent his blister getting worse! He could have left the ground repeatedly disguising the spray but did it openly. Fair play given the finger! #Ashes2023,” Hogg Tweeter.
Moeen Ali has accepted the sanction proposed by Andy Pycroft of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, and there was no formal hearing. Also, the Match Referee was satisfied that the drying agent was only applied on his finger and not used as an artificial substance on the ball. The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Ahsan Raza and Marais Erasmus, third umpire Chris Gaffaney and fourth umpire Mike Burns.
Meanwhile former India spinner Harbhajan had also come out in support of Moeen Ali.
“Don’t understand so much chatter around Moen Ali using spray on spinning fingers to numb the pain. Only issue is he should have informed the umpires, but if batsman gets a blister under the gloves, and he gets a spray. Will anyone even notice. Same logic, think about it?,” Harbhajan had Tweeted.