ADELAIDE, Jan 25: Australian wicketkeeper and opener Adam Gilchrist was fined 40 per cent of his match fee on Wednesday after being found guilty of dissent during a tri-series match against South Africa. Gilchrist, who will stand in as captain for Australia when they play Sri Lanka here on Thursday, pleaded guilty to the charge at a special hearing by match referee Jeff Crowe.

The charge arose after Gilchrist forcefully questioned Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar about why he had not referred a potential run out to the third umpire during Australia’s loss to the South Africans in Brisbane.

“Adam immediately pleaded guilty to the charge, understanding the need to end this sort of action on the field during play,” Crowe said in a statement.

The penalty was just short of the heaviest allowed for the offence, which carries a minimum of an official reprimand and a maximum of a fine of up to 50 per cent of a match fee.

It was the fourth time Gilchrist has fallen foul of officialdom and he joins Australian teammates Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee, who were reprimanded for similar offences during the Test series against South Africa.—AFP