Queensland coach Lehmann says he's been fined for telling 'the truth'

Brisbane, Mar.21 (ANI): Sheffield Shield winning Queensland Bulls coach Darren Lehmann has been forced to cough up 2,000 Australian dollars for using actions and language contrary to the spirit of cricket.

The Bulls celebrated their seventh Shield title yesterday, but Lehmann was pulled up for angrily confronting umpires when they took players off the field for bad light on day three of the final, when Queensland's bowlers were going for the jugular with Tasmania at 6-136 in their second innings.

Umpires Bruce Oxenford and Simon Fry were placed in a spot, as Cricket Australia had inexplicably not given them light meters and they were forced to use their own judgment.

CA's blunder in not providing standard light meters in the biggest domestic game of the season led to major controversy, with the Bulls believing there was inconsistency in the prevailing conditions where umpires called bad light on various days of the final.

"I pleaded guilty to the charge and I will pay the fine,- but I have been fined for telling the truth," Lehmann told the Courier-Mail.

He added: "I understand umpires have got a job to do, but I do stand by what I said. There is inconsistency. If they had light meters it would have been easier for them to make decisions."

Lehmann was backed strongly by his boss, Queensland Cricket CEO Graham Dixon.

Dixon said: "He's got fined for saying what everyone else was thinking."

Dixon added: "The fact that cricket keeps finding ways to come off at the drop of a hat for bad light is ridiculous. We hide behind due care and injury concerns, but the reality is that is just making excuses. We can't treat supporters of the game this way." (ANI)