Match referee catches Kevin Pietersen in men's loo... to reprimand him

There is nothing unusual about being cautioned by a match referee but what sets apart maverick England star Kevin Pietersen's case is that it happened inside the toilet of the Ranchi airport!

Pietersen was informally cautioned by match referee Andy Pycroft for showing dissent against an umpire's decision after he stayed glued to the crease for quite a few seconds following his dismissal, which looked dubious in replays, during the lost third one-dayer against India last Saturday.

Pycroft asked Pietersen and England one-day coach Ashley Giles to step into the toilet at Ranchi airport to issue them with a warning as both teams waited for the charter flight that brought them to Chandigarh, as they head to Mohali to play the fourth ODI.

Kevin Pietersen reprimanded in the men's loo. File Pic/AFP

Pietersen may deem himself lucky to escape a fine for standing in incredulity when he was given out caught behind in Saturday's third one-day international and then shaking his head as he finally left the field, the Daily Mail reported.

Yet perhaps Pycroft was merciful because Pietersen was clearly not out and umpire S Ravi's decision, understandable as it was in another noisy, highly charged atmosphere, was the spark for another woeful England collapse, the paper added.

"Kevin and I were spoken to in the gent's. So that was a very nice scene, my first meeting with a match referee!" coach Ashley Giles said.

"We've got to be careful with reactions to decisions and Andy was right to speak to Kev. But I think common sense prevailed. It was just a little word."

Pietersen was adjudged caught behind by umpire S Ravi off Ishant Sharma for 17. Giles felt the match referee did the right thing and players have to be cautious.

"Andy was right to speak to Kev," Giles admitted.

"But I think common sense prevailed. I didn't think it was a reaction, more disappointment from Kev. But we've got to be careful with reactions to decisions. It's tough for the umpires here, it's so loud that decision making is tough. We understand that."