Cape Town, Jan 6 (IANS) Match referee Andy Pycroft Thursday penalised the Indian players 30 per cent of their match fees for slow over-rate in the ongoing third and decisive cricket Test against South Africa.

Pycroft, a referee of the elite panel of the International Cricket Council (ICC), imposed the fines after Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side was ruled to be three overs short of its target when time allowances were taken into consideration.

Dhoni as captain was fined 60 per cent of his match fee and if he is found guilty of two more minor over-rate offences in Tests over the next 12 months, he will receive a one-match suspension as per the ICC code. The penalty was accepted by Dhoni without contest so there was no need for a hearing.

In accordance with the ICC code regulations, players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain shelling out double that amount.

India were five and a half overs short even during the Centurion Test and Dhoni had expressed his concern.