Content :

IPL had issued an official warning to Pietersen, for objecting his first-ball Ibw dismissal at the hands of spin bowler Muttiah Muralitharan

 

Though, no serious charges was leveled against the Pietersen, match referee Gundappa Viswanath found the English batsman culpable of  level one offence, after he showed his dissent at Australian umpire Simon Taufel’s decision. 

 

The 28-year-old-thought he had nicked the ball, and exhibited an evocative stare at his bat, before leaving the field.

 

"I think I got a little nick on it, but such is life," Pietersen was quoted saying to one of the leading newspapers. 

 

However, Muralitharan had a different viewpoint. Pietersen didn’t edge and even wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Doni felt the same and so both of us appealed, informed the spinner.

 

Pietersen, thus became the first target in the second session of the IPL to be caught on the wrong side of the ICC Code Of Conduct.  

 

Issuing a statement on this incident Lalit Modi said, all matches are being closely monitored, and since IPL has adopted zero-tolerance policy, appropriate steps will be taken against players showing any kind of indiscipline, to ensure that the game is played in the true spirit. 

 

“The eyes of the world are on the DLF Indian Premier League and we want to see cricket, and the spirit of cricket, at its best,” he said.

 

Kevin Pietersen will be there for Bangalore Royal Challengers only for another week as he leaves for his home country England for the forthcoming cricket series against the West Indies. Other English players will also follow suit. However Lalit Modi hopes that that the players will play the semis, if their respective teams get that far. However, its up to ECB to decide upon, informed Modi.  

 

But it does not appear to be a problematic proposition since the IPL semis are on May 22nd and 23rd, while England’s ODIs have will take place on 21st and 24^th.