Moeen Ali fined for using ‘drying agent’ in Ashes Test

 Moeen England off-spinner Moeen Ali has been found guilty of breaching the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) code of conduct for using unauthorized desiccant on his bowling hand in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston. Moeen, 36, breached Article 2.20 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel. article, which refers to the display of actions contrary to the spirit of the game, therefore he was fined 25% of the match fee.

The incident took place in the 89th over of Australia’s first innings when the all-rounder was accused of putting ‘drying agent’ on his bowling hands while playing. The 36-year-old admitted his offense and accepted the punishment handed down by Andy Pycroft, a member of the Emirates ICC’s elite panel of match referees. Level 1 offenses carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, with a maximum penalty of 50 percent of the player’s match fee and one or two demerit points

An ICC statement read: “England player Moeen Ali has been fined 25 per cent of his match fee for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the first Test against Australia in Birmingham on Saturday. “Ali was found to have breached Article 2.20 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which deals with conduct contrary to the spirit of the game.” In addition, Ali’s disciplinary record was also disadvantaged, for whom this was the first violation within 24 months.”

With England players paid around £15,000 ($19,000) per Test, Moeen was fined £3,750. Moeen is playing for England in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston where he took 18 off 17 in the first innings while claiming the two important wickets of Travis Head and Cameroon Green.