Aussie Captain Ponting Censured for TV Smash 11:16, February 25, 2011 Ponting after being run out; the captain allegedly destroyed a TV in a pique of rage upon returning to the changing rooms. A bizarre episode at the Cricket World Cup was finally closed on Wednesday when Australian Ricky Ponting paid the price for damaging a dressing room television in pique and was reprimanded by the game's governing body. After being run out against Zimbabwe, Ponting, 36, threw down a piece of cricket equipment only to see it ricochet and hit the TV screen, causing it to break. The International Cricket Council duly issued a statement on Wednesday confirming that Ponting had been reprimanded. Ponting was, it said, guilty of "abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an international match". Ponting accepted the verdict without the need for a hearing. "Ricky knows that his action was in breach of the code, involving a brief moment of frustration," ICC match referee Roshan Mahanama was quoted as saying. "That said, it was clear that the damage he caused was purely accidental and without malice, he apologized shortly after the incident at the ground and immediately agreed to pay for the damage." Ponting, who as captain has lifted the last two World Cups, escaped any further censure even though he could have been fined up to 50 percent of his match fee, the ICC said. The incident happened during Australia's comfortable win on Monday over Zimbabwe shortly after the skipper was run out for 28 in Ahmedabad, India. "Source:Shanghai Daily" .