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BCCI seeks code of conduct for ICC referees
The Indian cricket board on Tuesday sought that the ICC set up a forum of appeal against arbitrary decisions taken by match referees.
The Indian cricket board on Tuesday sought that the ICC set up a forum of appeal against arbitrary decisions taken by match referees.
Jagmohan Dalmiya, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, said the board's high-powered working committee had sought that the ICC remove ambiguity in the functioning of ICC match referees, whose verdicts were not open for scrutiny.
The BCCI said in a statement "there should be a code of conduct for the ICC referees on similar lines as players, team officials and umpires." "It's strange, but only the referees don't come under the purview of the ICC's code of conduct," Dalmiya said.
India last week challenged the verdicts of match referee Mike Denness during the drawn second Test match against South Africa in Port Elizabeth. It was furious after Denness penalised six Indian players - including star player Sachin Tendulkar - for bringing the game into disrepute.
India demanded that Denness be replaced for the third Test match in Centurion, or his verdict be kept in abeyance. But the ICC overruled India's protest as the referee's decisions could not be challenged.
India's threat to abandon the third Test match forced South Africa to remove Denness as match referee and antagonized the ICC, which in turn termed the ongoing Test as unofficial.
The BCCI on Monday passed a resolution saying it was Denness who had brought the game to disrepute and India would boycott any international match where he is nominated to officiate as match referee.
"Most of the decisions taken by Denness as ICC referee against the Indian cricketers were too harsh and biased," the BCCI resolution said. "He had erred on the point of law by not following proper procedures laid down in the ICC regulations and code of conduct."
Dalmiya said the match referee's unchallenged authority was against the principles of democracy and fair play.
Bureau Report
Jagmohan Dalmiya, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, said the board's high-powered working committee had sought that the ICC remove ambiguity in the functioning of ICC match referees, whose verdicts were not open for scrutiny.
The BCCI said in a statement "there should be a code of conduct for the ICC referees on similar lines as players, team officials and umpires." "It's strange, but only the referees don't come under the purview of the ICC's code of conduct," Dalmiya said.
India last week challenged the verdicts of match referee Mike Denness during the drawn second Test match against South Africa in Port Elizabeth. It was furious after Denness penalised six Indian players - including star player Sachin Tendulkar - for bringing the game into disrepute.
India demanded that Denness be replaced for the third Test match in Centurion, or his verdict be kept in abeyance. But the ICC overruled India's protest as the referee's decisions could not be challenged.
India's threat to abandon the third Test match forced South Africa to remove Denness as match referee and antagonized the ICC, which in turn termed the ongoing Test as unofficial.
The BCCI on Monday passed a resolution saying it was Denness who had brought the game to disrepute and India would boycott any international match where he is nominated to officiate as match referee.
"Most of the decisions taken by Denness as ICC referee against the Indian cricketers were too harsh and biased," the BCCI resolution said. "He had erred on the point of law by not following proper procedures laid down in the ICC regulations and code of conduct."
Dalmiya said the match referee's unchallenged authority was against the principles of democracy and fair play.
Bureau Report