Australia one-day all rounder Andrew Symonds [Images] has been suspended for two matches and fined two match fees after staying out late before Saturday's triangular series match against Bangladesh.

Cricket Australia said the ban, for breaching "expected team behaviour" would include Saturday's match as well as Sunday's fixture against England [Images].

The fine amounted to around 8,000 Australian dollars ($6,000).

Symonds had been selected for the game against Bangladesh in Cardiff, which ended in a shock defeat for the world champions, only for the Australia team spokesman to announce he had suffered a niggle during the warm-up.

It was then suggested he was struggling with 'flu before reporters were told the player had been axed for breaching team rules but no extra details were given until Sunday.

A team statement said Symonds had been "out later than was appropriate for a player preparing to play in an international cricket match".

Captain Ricky Ponting [Images] said: "I'm very disappointed with what has happened, as is Andrew. He is aware he has let the team and the fans down but especially himself."

Ponting said the episode had been "an unwanted distraction" and that Symonds had apologised directly to his team mates. He had said: "I know it was wrong and I'm very embarrassed."

Reports in the Australian media have said that Symonds went out for a meal with his team mates on Friday to celebrate Shane Watson's birthday but he then went out again and did not return until around 4.30 in the morning, looking worse for wear in the team hotel the next morning.

The 30-year-old Queenslander has played 116 one-dayers, averaging 35.67. The highlight of his career was an innings of 143 against Pakistan during the 2003 World Cup.