West Indies v Bangladesh, 1st Test, St Lucia

Best fined 75% of match fee

Wisden Cricinfo staff

June 2, 2004

Tino Best: hit in the pocket © Getty Images

Tino Best, the West Indian fast bowler, has been fined 75% of his match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the first Test against Bangladesh in St Lucia, which finished yesterday.

Best, 22, was fined after pleading guilty to breaching Level 2.5 of the Code, which relates to deliberate physical contact between players in the course of play. A Level 2 breach of the Code carries a potential fine of between 50 and 100% of the player's match fee, and/or a ban from one Test or two ODIs.

Best was reported by the umpires - Daryl Harper and Jeremy Lloyds, who was standing in his first Test - for an incident during Bangladesh's second innings. After bowling the final ball of the 19th over, Best was deemed to have deliberately moved into the path of the batsman as he sought to take a run, ensuring that physical conduct occurred.

The fine was imposed by Roshan Mahanama, the ICC match referee, in a hearing after the match at Gros Islet.

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