ICC charges Wahab Riaz, Shane Watson for confrontation during Pak-Oz WC quarter tie

The International Cricket Council has charged Pakistani fast bowler Wahab Riaz and Australian all-rounder Shane Watson for their conduct in their World Cup quarterfinal tie at the Adelaide Oval on Friday.

Riaz and Watson were involved in what is likely to be remembered as the most memorable duel at the World Cup, which was followed by a confrontation, and it triggered disciplinary action against both by the ICC.

The ICC would announce specific details of the charges and penalties relating to both on Saturday, Stuff.co.nz reported.

Watson, who is very calm off field, is renowned for delighting in on-field sledging of opponents. However, this time the confrontation was triggered by the actions of Riaz, who, when batting earlier, became enraged when bowler Mitchell Starc mockingly suggested he attempt to hit the ball.

Riaz's first delivery to Watson was a searing bouncer, after which the left-armer ran through past Watson to the other end of the pitch. Following the second delivery, rated at 150 kilometer-per-hour, which Watson declined to play a shot at, Riaz approached him and mock clapped him.

Riaz's temper worsened when he tempted Watson into a pull shot that he top edged, only for Rahat Ali to fumble what should have been a simple catching opportunity when Watson was on four.

The Australia all-rounder went on to score 64 not out to guide his team to a six-wicket victory, passing Pakistan's total of 213 with 97 balls to spare.

Late in the match he dispatched Riaz, who was waning after a phenomenal six-over opening spell, to and over the boundary with decisive shots, which prompted Riaz to renew his verbal attack on Watson, who in response simply smiled back at him.

Riaz later explained that Watson had, like Starc, been mocking him during the Pakistan innings, saying that when he had been batting the all-rounder just came up to him and asked him if he was holding a bat, and insisted that that was going through his mind.

Riaz claimed that he let Watson know that even he was having the bat, but couldn't touch the ball during his spell.