South Africa have asked the ICC to take disciplinary action against West Indies left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn following his altercation with Dale Steyn during the third Test in Barbados. Steyn was fined his entire match fee for spitting while walking past Benn immediately after his dismissal. The incident was preceded by an exchange of words between the players in the previous few overs.
"Dale Steyn's action was regrettable and he has apologised for it," Mohammad Moosajee, the South African team manager, told reporters upon his team's arrival in Johannesburg from the Caribbean. "But it came after lots of provocation and there was also retaliation after the incident.
"We have laid a code of conduct charge against Sulieman Benn with the ICC and that must now go through the judicial process."
The fact that Benn, who has been punished for indiscipline before but not penalised this time, had provoked Steyn had also been acknowledged by the match referee Jeff Crowe when he decided to fine the latter. "Dale's behaviour was entirely unacceptable and he knows that. The fact that he was provoked by Sulieman during his time at the crease helps to explain his actions but cannot excuse them."
In a separate incident in the same game, fast bowler Kemar Roach was fined 50% of his match fee for an "unpleasant altercation" with Jacques Kallis.