ICC gets tough on sledging, racial abuse

Continuing its efforts to check player indiscipline, the International Cricket Council has issued a mandate to its new elite panel of umpires to clamp down on obscene language, sledging and racial abuse on the field.

Encouraging the umpires to report offending behaviour by players, the ICC has laid down four specific guidelines entailing what constitutes acceptable and unacceptable language and behaviour.

"We want international cricket to be tough and competitive but we also want to improve its image with the public. Umpires have agreed to support this drive by clamping down on language and behaviour that falls below reasonable standards," explained ICC Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Speed.

"We are not trying to outlaw verbal exchanges between players, but spectators and viewers must not be exposed to crude, excessive language and gestures," he added.

The four sections covering obscene language and behaviour are included in the new Players Code of Conduct. Each is targeted at a specific offence, with Level 1 covering general use of bad language and obscene gestures, through to sledging (Level 2) and racial and ethnic abuse (Levels 3 and 4).

The new Code allows for both suspensions and severe penalties for defaulters.

"The majority of cricketers are well behaved and play the game in correct spirit. What we are doing with this initiative is to clarify the boundaries of behaviour for international cricket, in line with other major sports," ICC's General Manager-Cricket David Richardson said.

Mail Cricket Editor