'Decisions will not set dangerous precedent'

The International Cricket Council on Friday rejected suggestions that the deal it struck with the Board of Control for Cricket in India to end the deadlock following controversial punishments handed down to six Indian players would set dangerous precedents.

ICC Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Speed told reporters in London an amicable solution, that involved dropping of Virender Sehwag, who was served a one-match ban by match-referee Mike Denness, and setting up of a commission to review the punishments, was reached between the ICC and the BCCI.

Denying suggestions that the deal had set a dangerous precedent, he said, "The decisions that we reached today have set two precedents. The first is that ICC has stood by the match-referee. It cancelled official status for the third match at Johannesburg and was prepared to cancel status for all the matches had the Indian cricket board not complied with its directives.

"The other is that ICC is prepared to adopt a common-sense approach to matters. We have agreed to set up a commission to look in to the procedures adopted by the match referee. I don't think this will set a dangerous precedent. If a mistake has been made, we will see to it that it is not repeated."

Admitting that the ICC and BCCI were headed for a "massive collision", Speed said: "Time to time our relations strained, but in the end BCCI chief Dalmiya and ICC chairman Malcolm Gray came to an amicable solution."

Asked whether the ICC is considering according official status to the third match between India and South Africa in Johannesburg, Speed said, "If the Indian cricket board wants official status for the match, the matter has to be brought up at the proper forum that is at the Executive Board meeting."

Speed said he felt "very comfortable" with the outcome reached after intense telephonic conversations and "exchange of documents last night between the ICC and BCCI".

"At 5 o'clock yesterday we decided to continue with our tele conversations than spending time travelling to Kuala Lumpur."

That ICC and BCCI were almost on a warpath was evident from Speed's statement that "Peace was declared at 11 o'clock this morning".

Mail Cricket Editor