Indian striker Sunil reprimanded for middle-finger gesture

Tournament Director Sarinder Dillon of Hong Kong issued an "official reprimand" after a disciplinary hearing at the team hotel where Sunil and Indian team manager Manoj Bhore were present.

Sunil's action of throwing a punch in the air with his middle finger raised in Thursday's encounter with Pakistan was caught by television cameras.

The matter then came to the attention of the Tournament Director, who summoned Sunil and the Indian team manager for a hearing after viewing the video of the incident.

"Sunil accepted that he was wrong and has been officially reprimanded," Dillon said.

The decision means Sunil will be able to play in India's last match tomorrow. Indian team manager Bhore said he was relieved that the matter had been resolved.

Sunil's match-winning goal for India came in the penultimate minute when the teams were tied 1-1.

India had opened the scoring in the first session through penalty corner specialist Sandeep Singh, while Pakistan equalised with a penalty corner conversion by Sohail Abbas, the highest all-time goal scorer in international hockey.

The victory kept five-time champions India, currently lying in the third place, in the contest for a bronze medal. India have rounded off their league engagements with nine points from six matches.

India's opponents for the play-offs and whether that would feature in the bronze medal match would be finalised later in the evening after the last round of league matches.

New Zealand have confirmed entry into the Azlan Shah Cup final by logging 12 points in five match. Argentina (nine points from five matches) and pre-tournament favourites Great Britain (eight points in five matches) are the other teams vying for a spot in the final.