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Speed defends ICC actions

09/01/2008

The chief executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC) has defended his decision to bow to Indian pressure over umpiring in Australia.

The Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) said they were prepared to boycott the third Test against the Australians at the Waca in Perth over the treatment of Harbhajan Singh.

Spinner Harbhajan was handed a three-Test ban by the ICC for his alleged racial abuse of Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds in the second Test, which India lost in dramatic fashion at the end of the fifth day.

And the BCCI also declared their unhappiness about umpire Steve Bucknor standing in the final Test after its claims that his poor decision-making cost India the second match of the series.

But Speed, speaking on BBC Radio Four's Today programme, said the decision to replace Bucknor with New Zealander Billy Bowden was made to avoid an "international crisis".

"We could have taken a confrontational tone but we took a diplomatic approach," he said.

"We have got an international sporting incident where countries are polarised. What we are seeking to do is avoid having that turn into an international crisis.

"We have taken away one of the points of issue that has caused this passionate response in both countries.

"If Steve Bucknor had been umpiring, commentators and public would have pored over every decision Steve made."

Speed also said he was "very pleased" the tour would continue after persuading the BCCI to renege on its decision not to fly to Canberra for a tour match earlier this week.

But he also said the fact that India's decision to continue could be reversed if Harbhajan's appeal against his ban is not successful would not impact the appeals committee's findings.

"There is a process in place for appeals and Harbhajan Singh has appealed," Speed continued.

"India have signed off on the appeals process. They were there when all the discussions took place.

"We can't have one set of rules for the India team and another set for everyone else [so] we will follow the process and I hope, whatever the outcome, all parties will be able to say they have had a fair hearing."