Thursday 19 March 2015 13:43, UK
Monty Panesar has been handed a suspended one-match ban for his behaviour during an LV= County Championship match between Essex and Worcestershire earlier this month.
The spin bowler, on loan at Essex until the end of the season with his Sussex career seemingly over, admitted breaching ECB Directive 3.2 by not conducting himself fairly and properly on the field in the match between September 3 and 6.
The ECB did not fully explain their decision, but on the final day of the contest he was involved in a tense exchange with Worcestershire batsman Ross Whiteley.
Umpire David Willey was forced to interject, with Essex skipper James Foster also involved in trying to calm the situation.
Panesar may now miss one County Championship game, although the punishment is suspended until the end of the 2014 campaign.
Panesar has also cut a controversial figure off the pitch this season after he urinated in public outside a Brighton nightclub in the early hours of the morning.
But the 31-year-old will still travel to Australia for this winter's Ashes series, despite the punishment.
"The ECB Cricket Discipline Commission announced today that Monty Panesar has received a suspended ban after accepting that he breached ECB Directive 3.2," read a statement from the ECB.
"He did not conduct himself fairly and properly on the field, following two incidents during the LV= County Championship match between Essex and Worcestershire on Tuesday 3rd - Friday 6th September in which his actions were potentially threatening and intimidating towards a member of the opposition.
"Under the summary procedure in the Cricket Discipline Commission Regulations, Panesar has accepted a suspension from one LV= County Championship match, such penalty to be suspended until the end of the 2014 season, pending any further breach of any ECB Rule, Regulation, Code or Directive.
"He has apologised for his behaviour during the match."
