SYDNEY, Jan 17: Australian veteran Shane Warne is facing a new ban for an alleged breach of the spirit of the game in a domestic Twenty20 match, Cricket Australia said on Thursday.

The bowling great apologised last week after a foul-mouthed rant against West Indian all-rounder Marlon Samuels that earned him a ban and a fine in Australia's Big Bash League.

But in Wednesday night's semi-final Warne, the official Melbourne Stars skipper, was not listed as captain for the match they lost against Perth Scorchers.

Cricket Australia said they had recently sent a memo to BBL teams about the captaincy role.

“If a team's official captain is selected but not named as captain, this will be considered against the spirit of cricket and may attract a code of behaviour charge,” CA said. “Warne has been reported for breaching CA's code of behaviour.”The time and date of Warne's hearing was yet to be fixed.

The 43-year-old spinner, who was banned for one match and fined Aus$4,500 (US$4,700) over the Samuels row, claimed 708 Test wickets in a celebrated career.

But he has also courted controversy, notably when he was fined for accepting money from a bookmaker and sent home from the 2003 World Cup for taking a banned diuretic.—AFP