MUMBAI, May 18 (PTI): Rajasthan Royals captain Shane Warne today escaped a ban but was fined USD 50,000 for his public spat with RCA secretary Sanjay Dixit, thus clearing the decks for the Australian spin legend�s swansong IPL appearance on Friday.
The IPL�s Disciplinary Commission, which had summoned both Warne and Dixit for a hearing yesterday, decided to let off Warne with only a fine after considering that the Australian cricketer had already apologised for his outburst.
Warne was fined for breach of playing contract and warned of a harsher punishment in case he repeated such an offence.
�The Commission has decided to impose a fine of USD 50,000 upon Mr Warne,� a statement from the IPL�s Disciplinary Procedure Commission said.
�The Commission is conscious of the duty of all parties involved in the Indian Premier League, to uphold the image and reputation of the game of cricket, the BCCI and the League at all relevant times. Any action which is a breach of this duty is to be treated with all necessary severity.
�It regards the public criticism of Mr Dixit as being a serious breach by Mr Warne of his IPL playing contract. However, at the same time, the Commission also recognises that Mr Warne has apologised to Mr Dixit, and that the incident occurred just after the Match,� the statement said.
The Commission said it took into account Warne�s contribution to the IPL and to the game of cricket while handing out its verdict.
�In addition, the Commission is cognisant of the contribution to the game of cricket in general, and to the Indian Premier League, which has been made by Mr Warne,� it said.
The Commission, which comprised IPL chairman Chirayu Amin and Governing Council member Ravi Shastri, heard representations from both Dixit and Warne during the hearing which lasted close to three hours yesterday.
The disciplinary panel also made it clear that any repeat of such offence by Warne or any other person would invite a heftier fine or even a ban.
�The Commission wishes to stress that any future such occurrences committed by Warne or any other person may result in the imposition of a fine, which may be higher than that imposed in this case, a ban for a number of matches, and/or the deduction of points from the relevant team,� it said.
There was speculation that Warne would be banned for one match but the verdict has now paved the way for his last IPL appearance against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday. Warne had only a few days back announced his retirement from IPL but had indicated that he may take up an advisory role with the franchise in the subsequent editions.
Warne is alleged to have publicly insulted Dixit after an IPL match in Jaipur, calling him a �liar and egoistic�, forcing RR owner Shilpa Shetty to intervene and apologise for the incident.
The ugly incident took place just after the prize distribution ceremony of the match between RR and RCB at the Sawai Mansingh stadium.
Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) had last week lodged a complaint against Warne with the BCCI and the IPL for publicly abusing Dixit for not agreeing to his request of a suitable pitch.
RCA secretary Dixit also filed a separate complaint and had urged the BCCI and IPL to take stern action against Warne for pressuring him to provide a suitable wicket for Rajasthan Royals� home matches.
According to sources, Dixit has forwarded the text messages to BCCI which Warne had repeatedly sent him. When Dixit was asked about the incident, he said Warne�s behaviour probably came out of frustration for the team�s back-to-back defeats, which almost jeopardised Rajasthan Royals� chances of making it to the play-offs.
Services, Rlys in quarters
Sports reporter
GUWAHATI, May 18 � Riding on two extra time goals, Services trounced Delhi and by virtue of this victory Services confirmed a berth in the quarterfinal league stage in group B in the 65th Senior National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy.
After a fruitless regulation time, Sochungmi Releng and Shaji A D� Silva scored one goal each in the 7th and 20th minutes of the extra time respectively.
In a mediocre encounter at the Nehru Stadium here today, Services distinctly enjoyed territorial supremacy but could not go ahead during the regulation time. Services frontliners � Releng, Shaji and Mahesh Rai gelled well and created several openings during the regulation 90 minutes. But they could not capitalise on the scoring opportunities as the slippery ground became an obstacle for them.
The Delhi attackers, studded with PK Mimgleithing and Kamal Rawat despite their best possible efforts could not do any harm to the Services fort. Services defenders � Somnath Das, GS Sandhu, PS Sumesh and Anthony Chetry � shouldered the responsibilities with great deal of determination and foiled all the Delhi moves with ease.
At Bongaigoan, Indian Railways handed Tripura a 3-0 drubbing in a pre-quarterfinal knock-out match.
Balraj Singh truck twice in the 23rd and in extended time of the first session while PC Raja added one more in the dying moments of the match.
Railways cruised into the quarterfinal league stage and will be clubbed with Punjab, Goa and Services in group B.
Today�s matches: (Guwahati 3.30 pm) Tamil Nadu vs Chattishgarh; Bengal vs Manipur at 5.45 pm.
