Majid Haq faces ban after thumping down bat

Scotland player Preston Mommsen with the ICC Cricket World Cup on the ramparts of Stirling Castle yesterday. Picture: Donald MacLeod

The Clydesdale captain was seen to thump his bat on the turf after being given out lbw during his side’s defeat to Grange.

It is understood the umpires’ report has accused Haq of abusing equipment, dissent at a decision and using offensive language.

He will be charged with a Level 1 breach of Cricket Scotland’s Code of Conduct, an offence for which an official reprimand is the normal penalty. However, Haq has already committed a Level 1 offence this season, meaning his latest alleged misdemeanour can be upgraded to Level 2 and the possibility of a ban of up to five games.

A Cricket Scotland spokesman said: “The umpires report has been received and there is a process which will be followed.

“Should the player admit the offence or be found guilty a suspension is a possibility.”

However, given the late stage in the season, it is unlikely that any ban would take effect until next year.

Meawnhile, England captain Alastair Cook’s misery over his side’s one-day humbling at the hands of India was compounded yesterday when he was fined 20 per cent of his match fee for a slow over rate.

India took a 1-0 lead in the series with a 133-run win in Cardiff on Wednesday with England collapsing to 161 all out after Cook’s dismissal lbw for 19.

The match was decided on the Duckworth-Lewis method because of rain but England were found to be one over short of their target. The rest of the team were fined ten per cent of their match fees and Cook faces a one-match ban if England transgress in a similar manner again in the next year.

England’s woes were not restricted to the over rate with paceman Chris Jordan bowling 12 wides and going for 73 runs in his ten overs. Elsewhere, South Africa captain AB de Villiers is hoping Faf du Plessis can use Wednesday’s victory over Australia as a springboard for his own form ahead of the clash against Zimbabwe. The duo both got centuries and put on 206 for the third wicket as the Proteas beat Australia by seven wickets with 20 balls to spare in the second match of the series.

For Du Plessis, it was a first century in 51 one-day internationals and De Villiers is hoping it can be the first of many with the World Cup fast approaching. “I’m extremely proud and happy for him,” De Villiers told a press conference. “We have always had a lot of belief in him as a player and he has been our rock for the last while.”