Mumbai, May 18 (IANS) The Indian cricket board Wednesday slapped Rajasthan Royals captain Shane Warne with a $50,000 fine for publicly criticising Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) secretary Sanjay Dixit after an Indian Premier League (IPL) match.

A two-member IPL disciplinary procedure commission, comprising IPL chairman Chirayu Amin and former India captain Ravi Shastri, heard both Dixit and Warne and found that Warne was guilty of breaching the IPL playing contract.

"Any action which is a breach of this duty is to be treated with all necessary severity. It regards the public criticism of Mr. Dixit as being a serious breach by Mr. Warne of his IPL playing contract. The Commission has decided to impose a fine of $50,000 upon Mr. Warne," an IPL statement said.

"The commission also recognises that Mr. Warne has apologised to Mr. Dixit, and that the incident occurred just after the match (versus Royal Challengers). In addition, the commission is cognisant of the contribution to the game of cricket in general, and to the IPL, which has been made by Mr. Warne," the statement added.

The commission also said that any such incident committed by Warne in future may see him banned. Warne, however, will retire from professional cricket after the end of the IPL.

"The commission wishes to stress that any future such occurrences committed by Mr. Warne or any other person may result in the imposition of a fine, which may be higher than that imposed in this case, a ban for a number of matches, and/or the deduction of points from the relevant team," the statement said.

Dixit had alleged that Warne abused him publicly after he turned down the Australian's request for changing the pitch for the match against Royal Challengers Bangalore May 11.

The incident took place after the prize distribution ceremony at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. RCA immediately registered a complaint with the IPL.