India opener hit with rare fine from ICC

Murali Vijay has been fined 25 per cent of his match fee from the washed out Fatullah Test against Bangladesh after falling foul of the International Cricket Council's latest administrative regulation.

The Indian opener was fined for wielding a piece of willow that violated clause 19.43 of the ICC's Clothing and Equipment Rules and Regulations.

An ICC official confirmed to cricket.com.au the logo in question was placed towards the bottom-half of one of edge of Vijay’s bat.

Images from the match show the logo in clear view as Vijay waved his bat to salute his half-century. They also show the same logo taped up the following day when Vijay again waves his bat to celebrate brining up his 150.

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Vijay salutes fifty, with the logo on the bat edge visible // Getty Images

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Vijay salutes reaching 150, with the logo taped over // Getty Images

The opener was dismissed soon after by Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan for an even 150 in a rain-affected match that ended in a draw.

Clause 19.43 of the ICC's regulations was updated on the first of May this year restricting the size and location of manufacturer's logos on the edges of bats.

Previously, one manufacturer’s logo was permitted on the edge of the bat, providing it did not exceed 50 per cent of the edge of the bat.

Under the regulations that have come in since May 1, any number of logos are permitted on the edge of the bat, provided they are kept within the top nine inches from the shoulder.

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Section 19.43 of the ICC's Clothing and Equipment Regulations

Reports in Indian media claimed the offending logo was the "MJV8" signature Vijay has on the face of his bat, but this is permitted by the ICC's regulations, provided it is a maximum height of two centimetres.

An Indian team official said: "Vijay was told that his bat didn't conform to ICC rules and was penalised 25 per cent of his match fees. He accepted the decision."

Although the bat may have carried an offending sticker and cost him a quarter of his match fee, it's unlikely Vijay will be tossing it aside after scoring 150 and putting on a huge 283-run stand with opening partner Shikhar Dhawan, who top-scored with 173. 

Vijay has a history of falling foul of the ICC's closely enforced clothing and equipment regulations. In 2010 he was reprimanded by the match referee for sporting several advertising logos on his bat pads while hitting a century against Australia in Bangalore in October 2010.

The Fatullah century was his sixth in 32 Test matches, but the Test match specialist has returned home as India switches to one-day mode ahead of Thursday's match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.

Bangladesh and India's three-match one-day series starts tomorrow, Thursday evening (7pm AEST) with LIVE COVERAGE available on cricket.com.au's Match Centre.