Archives

by Richard Dwight

The accredited governing body of the cricketing world, the International Cricket Conference (ICC), did sometime in the past earn for itself the discomforting sobriquet the 'Toothless Tiger', mainly because it did manifest a lackadaisical, ad-hoc haphazard approach, in striking the iron while it was hot to discipline players who erred.

It was argued that the ICC was tentatively hesitant, slow and not swift enough to mete out deterrent punishment, to those who were guilty of showing dissent, intimidating, sledging, swearing and the like.

Needless to say, this resulted in there being a deterioration, in the way in which some cricketers conducted themselves - both on and off the field, which did have an adverse effect on the game itself.

The ICC startled from its reverie as it were, did well in the recent years, to arrest this ugly growing trend by restraining cricketers to some extent, by its rules and guidelines issued from time to time.

But that which will be most heartening to ardent followers of this game and make as well players wary of, will be the new ICC code of conduct regulations. It is we learn to be implemented at four levels.

The levels being (1) - Official reprimand and/or a fine of up to 50 per cent of match fee for using language that is obscene, offensive or insulting or the making of an obscene gesture. (2) - Fine of 50 to 100 per cent of match fee and/or a ban of one Test or two One-day Internationals, as level (1), but for more serious offences (3) - Ban of two to four Tests or four to eight One-day Internationals for using language or gestures that offends, insults, humiliates, intimidates, threatens, disparages or vilifies another person on the basis of race, religion, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin. (4) - Ban of between five Tests or ten One-day Internationals up to a life ban, as of level (3), but for more serious offences.

The ICC does seem perturbed over the cancellation of the New Zealand's tour of Pakistan and the likely threat to Australia's tour to Pakistan in August - both tours from the point of security due to the ongoing war in Afghanistan.

The West Indies too are requesting a neutral venue in Sharjah, whilst Australia pulled out of a tour of Zimbabwe because of the volatile political situation.

Despite the ICC insisting that countries must honour their home and away tour programmes, it may however, look at Pakistan's claim for compensation in a different light. All this will perhaps be addressed upon, when the ICC meets in July.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager