Shoaib fined
AFP, Perth
Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar was fined 40 per cent of his match fee -- estimated to be 5,000 Australian dollars (3,800 US) -- after being cited for a gesture during Australia's first innings in the Test match at the Western Australian Cricket Association ground. Officials said Friday that Akhtar had been charged under rules which prohibited the "pointing or gesturing towards the pavilion in an aggresive manner by a bowler following the dismissal of a batsman". The decision followed Akhtar's two-handed gesture to Australian opener Matthew Hayden on the first day of the test after he had the burly batsman trapped lbw for four runs. Akhtar said on Thursday he had not intended the gesture to be offensive and had just wanted Hayden to get on his way. An intense rivalry between the two had been reported in local media prior to the start of the Test.
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