World Twenty20: Stuart Broad fined for labelling umpires 'distinctly average' in defeat to New Zealand

Broad accepted the charge for criticising umpires Aleem Dar and Paul Reiffel after England lost their opening World Twenty20 match on the Duckworth/Lewis method due to rain

Stuart Broad labelled the umpires' decision making 'distinctly average' in the World Twenty20 opening defeat to New Zealand (Getty Images)

England captain Stuart Broad has been fined for criticising umpires for not halting his team's World Twenty20 opener against New Zealand sooner due to lightning.

The International Cricket Council imposed the fine Monday after Broad called the decision by umpires Aleem Dar and Paul Reiffel to continue the match "distinctly average."

New Zealand beat England by nine runs on the Duckworth/Lewis method after rain finally forced stoppage of Saturday's match.

New Zealand was 52-1 in 5.2 overs when rain stopped play, ahead on run rate in response to England's 172-6. The Duckworth-Lewis method requires at least 5 overs to be bowled by each side.

Broad, who felt the game should have been stopped before the fifth over, pleaded guilty to a Level 1 charge of publicly criticizing match officials.

AP