South African Lance Klusener has been banned for four matches following his verbal clash with Zimbabwe all-rounder Guy Whittall in a one-day game last weekend.

The punishment has been suspended for three months.

Whittall has also been fined 30pc of his match fee - suspended for a month - for his role in the dispute.

The two players engaged in an angry exchange after Klusener dismissed the Zimbabwean tailender in Sunday's limited overs match at St George's Park, Port Elizabeth.

Zimbabwe manager Declan Kelly lodged a complaint after the game, which South Africa won by 53 runs.

Indian match referee Hannumant Singh found Klusener had breached International Cricket Council rules when he "verbally abused Whittall by using crude and abusive language and engaged in unbecoming conduct which could bring the game of cricket into disrepute", said a statement said.

"He has been suspended from participating in two Test matches and two one-day internationals, both of which have been suspended for a period of three months."

Whittall was fined because he had also "used abusive language thereby bringing the game into disrepute".

A week ago South African batsman Daryll Cullinan was banned for two matches, and Border fast bowler Makhaya Ntini for one, following verbal exchanges between the players during a match.

Those sentences were suspended until the end of the 2000/2001 season.