ICC to find ways to bring consistency in decision making of the disciplinary code

03/29/2018

Dave Richardson, the CEO of the International Cricket Council, has asked for a meeting of the Cricket Committee where they can discuss on how to achieve consistency in the decision-making process. Richardson has also stated that the committee will discuss the ways to safeguard spirit of cricket.

The recent incident which happened in South Africa has shaken the cricket fraternity as it ended with a one-year ban on David Warner and Steve Smith. In the recent past, the cricket world has witnessed many inconsistent decisions from the ICC as during the Nidahas Trophy, Shakib al Hasan received only a fine even after calling back his players. However, in the second Test of the South Africa-Australia series, Kagiso Rabada was handed a two-match ban for just shoving the shoulder which was later overturned on appeal. The inconsistent decision making created a lot of furore among the fans and former cricketers alike and in the wake of it, the ICC decided to convene a meeting of the former and cricketers with the ICC Cricket Committee to discuss how to bring consistency to the system.

ICC CEO Dave Richardson has written a letter to various boards in which he has stated that the cricket committee will define what is acceptable behavior for the benefit of players and match officials and the decision regarding achieving consistency in decision-making around the enforcement of the disciplinary code will also be taken.

“We need to define more clearly for the benefit of both the players and the match officials what is acceptable behavior and what is not and what are the appropriate sanctions that should be imposed when a player breaches the Code. We also need to consider how we can reach greater consistency in the decision making around the application and enforcement of the Code,” Richardson wrote, as reported by Indian Express.

“This issue, however, goes beyond ‘ball tampering’ and … over the last few months we have been witness to a number of examples of poor player behavior in various international series around the world including ugly sledging, send-offs, dissent against umpire decisions and a walk-off. There is a need for cricket to take an urgent and hard look at itself,” Richardson wrote.

However, Richardson has made it clear that the ICC is yet to arrive on a decision on who will be the players to take part in the exercise, but clarified that they will organise a wide-ranging review.

“We intend bringing together some well respected former and current players who together with the ICC Cricket Committee will consider the appropriateness of the current offenses and the sanctions in the Code as well as how to make the spirit of the game a more integral part of the Code. The ICC will be conducting a wide ranging review into player behavior, the spirit in which the game is played and the Code of Conduct.”

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