Boucher fined for Kallis support

Mark Boucher - Kallis's close friend and long-term team-mate

South Africa wicket-keeper Mark Boucher will play in next month's World Twenty20 despite criticising the non-selection of Jacques Kallis.

But he will forfeit 60% of his fee for each match after being found guilty of breaching the players code of conduct.

In his ruling, disciplinary commissioner MD Kuper said: "In my view the breaches are serious.

"The comments were calculated to embarrass CSA [Cricket South Africa] and denigrate the T20."

Following the announcement of South Africa's squad for the World Twenty20, Boucher gave an interview to the Business Day newspaper.

In it he was quoted as saying: "[Kallis] is our best all-rounder ever and a far better one-day player than he's given credit for.

"People either have an issue with him, or have a chip on their shoulders, or they have ulterior motives."

During the disciplinary hearing, however, he claimed his comments were not related to the selection issue but were more general observations regarding Kallis' critics and sections of the media.

606: DEBATE I believe Kallis is capable of winning games single-handedly SP

This was dismissed by Kuper, who nevertheless decided a fine was more appropriate than a ban, which Cricket South Africa were seeking.

Kuper concluded that Boucher breached rules 1.5.2, 1.6.2 and 1.6.4 of the code, respectively concerning unbecoming or detrimental conduct, public comments detrimental to the game and public comments detrimental to a particular tournament.

The commissioner found that Boucher had been "dismissive" of the Twenty20 tournament in a way which would "tarnish the brand in the public perception".

He added: "Senior players have a responsibility to CSA and to cricket in general.

"Their responsibilities are set forth in the code and in their contracts and one is entitled to expect punctilious performance of their obligations."

Boucher has been a member of the South Africa team since 1997 and has played 102 Tests and 250 one-day internationals.