spinning great Shane Warne was fined $50,000 Wednesday for publicly criticizing an official from his own IPL team about a pitch used during the Twenty20 tournament. Warne criticized Rajasthan Cricket Association secretary Sanjay Dixit after the team's home game against Bangalore Royal Challengers on May 11. The player later apologized for the incident. Warne, the Rajasthan captain, was reportedly unhappy with the pitches provided in home games. The IPL disciplinary commission, comprising former India allrounder Ravi aShastri and league chairman Chirayu Amin, said the fine was being imposed as a deterrent for any similar instances in the future. “The commission is conscious of the duty of all parties involved in the Indian Premier League, to uphold the image and reputation of the game of cricket, the BCCI and the league at all relevant times,” the IPL said in a statement. “Any action which is a breach of this duty is to be treated with all necessary severity. It regards the public criticism of Mr. Dixit as being a serious breach by Mr. Warne of his IPL playing contract.” The IPL said the commission had taken into account the fact that Warne had already apologized to Dixit. “In addition, the commission is cognizant of the contribution to the game of cricket in general, and to the Indian Premier League, which has been made by Mr. Warne,” it said. Warne plans to retire from all forms of cricket after the tournament. His last game is at MumbaiIndians Friday. Tanvir Pakistan A captain Left-arm fast bowler Sohail Tanvir will lead the Pakistan A team in this month's three-match one-day series against Afghanistan. The Pakistan Cricket Board named the 15-member squad Wednesday which will play the one-dayers at Faisalabad (May 25), Rawalpindi (May 27) and Abbottabad (May 29). Tanvir underwent knee surgery last year. He struggled in his comeback ODI series against New Zealand earlier this year and was ruled out of the World Cup. Afghanistan will be the first international team to tour Pakistan since gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009 and killed six police officials and a van driver. Cark retires Former Australia bowler Stuart Clark has quit full-time cricket to concentrate on the administrator's job he recently landed, his state team New South Wales (NSW) said Wednesday. The 35-year-old right-arm paceman, however, will make himself available when NSW compete in this year's Champions League Twenty20 in India, provided it does not affect his job as general manager of the Sydney Sixers Big Bash League franchise. “The Sydney Sixers is now my professional focus, however I will still be available to play in this year's Champions League in India which NSW has qualified for... given that it does not impact upon my Big Bash League commitments,” Clark was quoted as saying in an NSW statement. “Playing cricket has given me many opportunities in life and I feel by continuing to play club cricket I am giving something back to the game,” said the bowler who claimed 94 wickets in the 24 Test matches he played from 2006-2009. Clark also played 39 ODIs – his last was against Pakistan in May, 2009 in Abu Dhabi – claiming 53 wickets.
