KOLKATA – The International Cricket Council, cricket’s world body said onThursday it wants tough new sanctions against ball tampering in placewithin months as it struggles with the fallout from the cheating scandalinvolving top Australian players.
International Cricket Council chief executive Dave Richardson saidfootball-style red and yellow cards would be among the measures consideredas it seeks to bring back a “culture of respect” to the game.
The leaders of top playing nations demanded harsher punishment and morepowers for umpires to act against cheating and misconduct at ICC meetingsin the eastern Indian city of Kolkata this week.
“There was clear direction received that we want to move toward stricterand heavier sanctions for ball tampering and all other offences that areindicative of a lack of respect,” he told a press conference.
Ex-Indian Test star Anil Kumble is to lead a player legends committee torecommend the sanctions.
The ICC chief said the new punishments would be decided in June and July.
Richardson said the punishments would also cover “other offences that areindicative of a lack of respect for your opponent, for the game, theumpires”.
“We want penalties in place that are a proper deterrent. Fines are notproving to be the answer,” he said.
The ICC was criticised after it banned Australia skipper Steve Smith foronly one Test over his role in the ball-tampering scandal in South Africalast month in which batsman Cameron Bancroft was caught trying to alter theball.
After a wave of public anger, Cricket Australia later banned Smith and hisdeputy David Warner for 12 months. Bancroft was given a nine-monthsuspension.
“Quite honestly we were worried about poor player behaviour before that,”said Richardson.
“There have just been too many incidents of sledging, ugly abusive languageand dissent.”
He said letting umpires send off and book players “will be part of thediscussion.
“When it comes to time wasting and things like that we want the umpires totake more on-field actions.”
Richardson said he was not convinced that red and yellow cards “will be aseasy to implement as in other sports”.
Umpires have since last year already been able to send off players forviolence and other extreme behaviour but this has not yet been used.
The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), guardians of the game rules, have beenamong the influential groups calling for red cards. – APP /AFP