CricketViewer.com

Ricky Ponting, the Australian captain, is infamous for his dissent towards the umpires. Few months back he was fined for his irresponsible behaviour during the second test match against Bangladesh.

Recently, he again got fined 100% of his match fee for arguing with umpire, Asad Rauf of Pakistan this time, during a match against West Indies in the DLF Cup.

Michael Brown, Cricket Australia’s acting chief executive, has described this as “unacceptable.”

Ponting spoke to Brown after his side’s remarkable and ultimately comfortable win over the West Indies in the tri-series opener on Tuesday. “As the game finished late last night I was very keen to understand what had happened and obviously very keen to reaffirm our position, and to make clear to him that it was unacceptable,” Brown said.

He might have to do that quickly for there are fears now that any further outbursts now or in the Ashes later this year could lead to a possible suspension for a Test. Ponting was also fined during the fourth Ashes Test last year for an outburst directed at the England dressing room after he was run out by the substitute fielder Gary Pratt.

The level-two offence - serious dissent - can carry a suspension of two ODIs or one Test, and the match referee is entitled to consider the player’s previous history. The newspaper said than an ICC source had indicated that Ponting had been warned after his latest breach that he was on dangerous ground and could face a ban were he to slip up again in similar fashion.