Afridi could be in hot water with ICC
by Cricket Archive Staff Reporter
DateLine: 7th February 2007
The International Cricket Council (ICC) was expected to issue a
statement concerning possible action against Pakistan allrounder Shahid
Afridi, Cricket South Africa (CSA) media manager Gordon Templeton said
on Tuesday.
Afridi is alleged to have swung his bat at a spectator as he was making
his way up the stairs to the dressing-room after he had been dismissed
for 17 in Pakistan's one-day International against South Africa at
SuperSport Park in Centurion on Sunday. His action was apparently in
response to something shouted by the spectator.
CSA general manager of cricket affairs Brian Basson said the chief
executive of the ICC had five days in which to call for footage of the
incident, after which he could decide on action to taken.
'The match referee can't lay a complaint against Afridi because he
would be the person in charge of any disciplinary hearing under the ICC
code of conduct,” said Basson.
In January South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs was banned for two
Test matches after being found guilty of a breach of the ICC Code of
conduct, after he made abusive and obscene remarks about Pakistan
supporters who had been heckling the South Africa fielders during the
first Test match, also played at Centurion.
Gibbs appealed, but the appeal was upheld by ICC appeals commissioner
Richie Benaud of Australia, who changed the ban to one Test and two
limited-overs matches.
At the time, South Africa cricket captain Graeme Smith called for
consistency from the ICC.
“We just want to see consistency around the world,” he said. “There
were things that happened to us in Australia that still haven't been
dealt with.” He reiterated his plea for consistency on Tuesday.
“I didn't see the incident, so I can't really comment,” he said. “But
if a complaint has been laid, then we just want consistency in the
ICC's approach.”
Pakistan captain Inzamam ul-Haq declined to comment on the Afridi
incident.
On Monday, CSA chief executive, Gerald Majola, praised the spectators
at the two matches on Friday and Sunday, saying they had been very well
behaved.
“Before the matches, we announced the introduction of zero tolerance
measures against unruly crowd behaviour so that the majority could
enjoy themselves, “said Majola. “The public responded by providing full
houses at both matches, and lustily cheering the Proteas to emphatic
victories. There was huge excitement, with minimal unruly behaviour and
CSA thanks and congratulates the public for this. Stadia staff also
deserves a pat on the back for quickly and firmly dealing with the few
incidents of bad behaviour. However, our zero tolerance measures will
be in place for the remaining ODIs in Durban, Cape Town and
Johannesburg. Extra security staff will be on duty at all the venues,
and they have been instructed to evict any spectator causing a
disturbance or disrupting the match. We also have the options of
criminally charging unruly spectators and imposing life-bans from
stadia.”
