ICC warns Broad for using distracting tactics

London:

The International Cricket Council has warned England pacer Stuart Broad against repeating the tactics he has used to distract rival batsmen during the World Twenty20 championship.

According to a report in 'BBC Sports', match referee Alan Hurst and umpires Steve Davis and Alan Hill, after a meeting on Friday, decided Broad's antics were "not appropriate".

Broad had tried to unsettle AB de Villiers in the 16th over of South Africa's run chase by throwing his left arm out as he ran in to bowl as if pointing to a fielder at cover.

Even though it didn't have any bearing on the match as South Africa crushed England by seven wickets, Proteas skipper Graeme Smith complained about Broad's actions to ICC.

"We saw it happen from the dugout. The match referees need to discuss that, it needs clarifying," Smith said. "I don't know what the rules stipulate, whether it's in the spirit of the game is a tough one," he added.

However, England skipper Paul Collingwood didn't find anything wrong in Broad's behaviour.

"I think the game is moving on. People are coming up with different techniques with the bat, fielding techniques and you are seeing things that audiences have not seen before," Collingwood was quoted as saying in BBC Sports.

"It's the way the game is moving and as long as it's in the spirit (of the game) it's fine and I think it is," he said.