Smith, Hall and Youhana charged by ICC

Tempers flare: the umpires move in as Hall and Youhana exchange unpleasantries © Wisden Cricinfo Ltd

Andrew Hall and Yousuf Youhana have been hauled before an ICC Code of Conduct meeting after their mid-pitch confrontation in the second ODI at Lahore last Sunday, following a review of video footage of the incident. And Graeme Smith, South Africa's captain, will also have to appear at the hearing, which will be conducted by the former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, the ICC match referee for this series.

Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, reviewed television replays of an incident in the match before laying the charges.

Smith has been charged with a Level 2 offence under the ICC Code of Conduct, which relates to the use of obscene or offensive language. A Level 2 offence carries a penalty of a fine between 50 and 100% of the player's match fee and/or a ban covering one Test or two ODIs.

Hall is facing two charges. The first is a Level 2 offence for inappropriate and deliberate physical contact, while the second is a Level 3 offence for conduct that brings the game into disrepute. A Level 3 offence carries a penalty of a ban of between two and four Tests, or four and eight ODIs.

Yousuf Youhana has been charged with a Level 1 offence of bringing the game into disrepute. The penalty for this, if proved, is an official reprimand and/or a fine up to 50% of the player's match fee.

An alleged breach of the ICC Code of Conduct can be reported by the umpires, the team managers, the chief executives of the participating boards or the ICC chief executive. Under the Code of Conduct, the chief executive has five days from the close of play on the day an incident took place within which to lay a charge against a player or official, and this is what Mr Speed has done.