Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was today fined 10 per cent of his match fee for “inappropriate public comments” to an umpire’s decision during the first qualifier of the Indian Premier League cricket tournament against Mumbai Indians here.
Following his side’s 25-run defeat to Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium last night, Dhoni referred to opener Dwayne Smith’s dismissal and called it a “horrible decision”.
“We lost momentum in the middle, and not to forget Smith got a horrible decision,” Dhoni said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
Smith was adjudged LBW after being struck on the pads off a full-toss from Lasith Malinga in the first over. Replays showed that ball would have gone down the leg side by some margin.
Dhoni admitted the level 1 offence (Article 2.1.7 of the IPL Code of Conduct for Players and Team Officials) and accepted the sanction.
Chennai will meet the winner of today’s eliminator between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore, in the second qualifier in Ranchi on Friday.