Melbourne Stars BBL captain Shane Warne says he has been harshly treated and is considering appealing against his one-match ban following his clash with Melbourne Renegades' Marlon Samuels.
Warne was hit with four charges following last night's Melbourne derby at the MCG and is now set to miss the Stars' crucial final match against Sydney Thunder at the same venue tomorrow.
The 43-year-old legspinner was also fined $A4500.
The Stars are yet to confirm a spot in next week's semifinals and Warne says an appeal is under consideration to enable him to play on.
"For me as the Melbourne Stars (captain) I'm very conscious of the image of the game," Warne told reporters today after emerging from his disciplinary hearing.
"I'm disappointed in some of my actions last night. Also I'm pretty disappointed with the severity of the penalties too.
"I think that was pretty harsh. We'll keep you updated through the day (on a possible appeal) and see what happens."
Warne, Australia's leading test wicket-taker and one of Wisden magazine's five cricketers of the 20th century, was found guilty on three of the four charges he faced.
Warne confronted Samuels at the end of one of his overs and grabbed at the West Indian import batsman's shirt, then swore at him and pointed angrily.
Miked up for TV, Warne could be heard saying "F**k you, Marlon!". The comment was Warne's response to an earlier incident when Samuels appeared to deliberately impede Stars batsman David Hussey.
Later in Samuels' innings, Warne struck the batsman with a throw to the body which prompted Samuels to angrily throw his bat down the pitch as the umpires stepped in to restore calm.
Warne was charged with showing dissent at an umpire's decision, engaging in inappropriate and deliberate physical contact, and throwing the ball at or near Samuels in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner.
CA also charged the legspinning great for using language that is obscene, offensive or of a generally insulting nature towards another player.
The ball-throwing charge was dismissed at Warne's hearing.
Samuels has been asked to explain his behaviour after hurling his bat and is also charged with making inappropriate physical contact.
However, Samuels is yet to attend a hearing and is nursing a suspected fractured eye socket after being struck by a bouncer from Stars pace bowler Lasith Malinga.
Stars batsman Cameron White pleaded guilty to a charge of showing dissent to an umpire and was fined $1000.
The top-placed Renegades are considering replacing Samuels for the finals series depending on his medical condition.
"We're now waiting for the swelling around his eye to subside before determining the full extent of the blow," coach Simon Helmot said.
