Bad news followed Team India in the middle of the second ODI against West Indies on Sunday (July 10) as Dhawan & Co. have been fined 20 per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow-over rate in the first ODI on Friday (July 22).
Match Referee Richie Richardson imposed the sanction after the Shikhar Dhawan-led side was ruled to be one over short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration.
"In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over rate offences, players are fined 20 per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time," the ICC stated in a statement on Sunday.
Dhawan pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.
On-field umpires Joel Wilson and Leslie Reifer, third umpire Gregory Brathwaite and fourth umpire Nigel Duguid levelled the charge.
India had pulled off a three-run win over the West Indies in the first ODI.
India won the first ODI in Port of Spain by three runs after a dramatic final over by Mohammed Siraj. India had made 308/7 batting first, but West Indies, driven by half-centuries from Kyle Mayers and Brandon King and cameos from Akeal Hosein and Romario Shepherd, came pretty close to the target. They eventually fell short by 3 runs.
The home side needed 15 runs off the last over but the yorkers of medium-pacer Mohammed Siraj limited batters Romario Shepherd and Akeal Hossain to 11. The series opener was closer than expected. India came from a series win in England, while West Indies was swept aside by visiting Bangladesh. Both sides started well and finished slowly. India's 308/7 total looked imposing. But it was just enough for a sixth consecutive win over West Indies since late 2018.
Talking about the second ODI, West Indies won the toss and elected to bat first and are off to a great start with skipper Nicholas Pooran (70 not out) and opener Shai Hope (93 not out) steered their side to 243/3 as of 43.2 overs. Meanwhile India will aim to win the second ODI in order to seal the three-match ODI series.
