`Chubby’ in finger trouble

London, May 17: Temperamental Australian spinner Shane Warne hit the World Cup headlines for the wrong reasons again today following repo...

London, May 17: Temperamental Australian spinner Shane Warne hit the World Cup headlines for the wrong reasons again today following reports he made an obscene gesture at the crowd during yesterday’s match against Scotland.

Warne, who last week received a two-match suspended ban and a fine for criticising Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga in a newspaper article, was reported to have raised his middle finger at a Scottish fan who had shouted: “You’re having a nightmare, chubby.”

The fans at the match at Worcester also displayed an inflatable plastic whale to represent the player and taunted him throughout the match.

Story continues below this ad

Match referee Ranjan Madugalle of Sri Lanka, however, did not see the alleged incident.

The highly-fancied Australians failed to impress in their six-wicket win over tournament debutants Scotland, although Warne had the last laugh as he took three for 39.

Warne can be sensitive over references to his physique. He once stormed out of a press conference in Australia after it was suggested to him that a wax model made in his honour was a bit too thin to be realistic.

Algerian-French artist’s work vandalised at Kochi art gallery over ‘obscenity’ allegations

India3 hr ago

Algerian-French artist Hanan Benammar's linocut prints were vandalised by two artists at an international exhibition in Kochi. The exhibition, curated by Anushka Rajendran and Damian Christinger, was organised by the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi and opened on October 18.

View all shorts

Live Blog

PHOTOS