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ICC enforces zero-tolerance approach to sledging

21/02/2008

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a zero-tolerance approach to sledging following the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recent request to stamp it out.

Umpires will use the existing ICC code of conduct and their discretion to decide whether a player has made "an inappropriate comment" or displayed "abusive behaviour".

"I welcome the members' commitment to the enforcement of the code," said ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed.

"I will be writing to umpires and referees, as well as member country chief executives, next week to inform them officially of this decision."

The resolution to outlaw sledging was taken at the ICC chief executives' committee meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.

Sledging - the verbal and public abuse of players - has been in the spotlight recently following last month's second Test between India and Australia.

Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh was found guilty of racially abusing Australia's Andrew Symonds, but was later cleared on appeal.

The Australia players claimed the spinner directed the word "monkey" at Symonds, but Harbhajan denied he used the insult.

The ICC code of conduct already outlaws "public criticism of, or inappropriate comment on a match-related incident or match official" and also "using language that is obscene, offensive or of a seriously insulting nature to another player, umpire, referee, team official or spectator".