Kevin Pietersen fined for breaching CA Code of Conduct during BBL semi-final

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has been handed over a $5,000 fine by Cricket Australia for terming an umpiring error as an “absolute shocker” while he was on air during the Big Bash League (BBL) season 6 semi-final between Melbourne Stars and Perth Scorchers. Pietersen had the microphone on and was interacting with the Network Ten commentators when the umpire turned down their appeal for caught behind and Sam Whiteman of the Scorchers stood his ground despite there being a nick.

“Shocker. Absolute shocker,” Pietersen said on air. He (the umpire) said it could have been glove or it could have been pad. I said ‘Well, he’s got big gloves and big pads to reach that’. Massive. Massive nick.”

The umpire Shawn Craig accepted his mistake later and wished he could have taken it back. “It was a really muffled noise and so I didn’t think it was bat,” Craig said was quoted by BigBash.com on Optus Sport’s Umpires’ Verdict. “I got it wrong. He (Whiteman) has hit it, there’s no doubt I got it wrong and it’s one of those ones I wish I could take back.”

It was a huge appeal from almost all the Stars players including skipper David Hussey and Pietersen but the umpire said there are also occasions when the appeal is strong but it is not out so he couldn’t go by just the intensity of the appeal.

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“That’s part of the game,” Craig said. “There are many occasions where they will … appeal confidently and it is not out and you make the right decision. Especially in the Big Bash when it is noisy and there are times when you can’t hear the nicks or something that might occur, off the pad or bat, you’ve got to rely on your partner to give you a hand.

“You’ve just got to trust your judgment and hope you get it right more often than not.”

CA today stated that Pietersen breached the Code of Conduct for “public or media comment that is detrimental to the interest of cricket, irrespective of when or where such comment is made” and thus he has been charged.

Match Referee David Talalla had charged him after the January 24 semi-final; KP accepted it there but has chosen to appeal against it three days later having returned to the UK. The official hearing was held on February 2, and the decision was upheld by the match referee. Pietersen has another window to appeal within 48 hours in which case the matter will be heard by a CA Code of Conduct Commissioner.