When the umpire - SK Bansal - upheld the appeal after the ball struck the Indian middle order batsman on his knee roll in front of middle and leg stumps, Azhar first seemed to indicate that he had nicked the ball, then cut loose with a volley of abuse as he walked off, constantly stopping to stare at the umpire and make his displeasure very clear.

The incident provoked the crowd into a near-riot, and Azhar himself had to come back out and patrol the periphery of the ground, appealing for calm, before the spectators settled down and let the game continue.

After the match, the former India captain was summoned for a hearing by the match referee. ``Azharuddin is a gentleman, and no inquiry will be conducted against him nor any fine imposed,'' said Reid after the hearing.

Reid explained that Azhar said he did not abuse the umpire, but only talked angrily to himself after he was given out, and that the abuse that was audible was directed at himself for getting out cheaply with India in a precarious position.