BIRMINGHAM, England, (Reuters) – England bowler Stuart Broad has been charged and may be facing a ban for throwing the ball at Pakistan debutant Zulqarnain Haider in the second test yesterday.

Broad, 24, was spoken to by the umpires after launching the ball at Haider and striking him on the shoulder when the batsman was on 22. The umpires also discussed the incident with Broad’s captain Andrew Strauss.

“He has been charged for throwing the ball inappropriately at an opponent,” an England and Wales Cricket Board spokesman said.

It occurred at a time in the game when Haider was frustrating the England players, before he was out for a battling 88 that gave Pakistan a 112-run lead in the match.

The disciplinary hearing took place after the third day’s play. International Cricket Council match referee Ranjan Madugalle is allowed to hand out punishment from a fine of 50 percent of his match fee up to a one-match ban. The Pakistan camp were annoyed by Broad’s behaviour and doubted whether his apology directly after the incident was sincere.

“Cricket is a gentleman’s game but I think they got frustrated,” Pakistan captain Salman Butt told reporters. “The throw was just one thing, there were plenty of words as well that everyone could see, and people kicking the bowling marks.

“It’s not good to see people throwing balls intentionally at others and not even excusing (themselves) properly.”

Broad’s England and Nottinghamshire county team mate Graeme Swann tried to speak up for Broad.

“Knowing Broady as I do, he certainly didn’t have any malice behind it — and he can’t throw the ball hard enough to hurt anyone anyway,” said Swann in an effort to lighten the issue.

“He apologised straightaway. It was just a sign of the frustrations that were going on.”