Yuvraj Singh not guilty of Code of Conduct breach by ICC Media Release

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Ground:	Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Scorecard:	Australia v India
Player:	SR Clark, A Kumble, SJ Davis, BF Bowden, MR Benson, MJ Procter, Yuvraj Singh
Event:	India in Australia 2007/08

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DateLine: 29th December 2007

 

India’s Yuvraj Singh has been found not guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during his side's first Test against Australia in Melbourne.

The player was charged with breaching Level 1.3 of the ICC Code which relates to showing dissent at an umpire's decision by action or verbal abuse.

The charge, laid by the four umpires on duty in the match, on-field officials Billy Bowden and Mark Benson, third umpire Steve Davis and fourth umpire John Ward, related to an incident on the second day of the Test, on Thursday, when Yuvraj stood his ground after he was given out caught behind off Stuart Clark.

The hearing took place after the third day’s play on Friday as, by the time the umpires had the chance to view the footage on Thursday evening and had decided to charge the player, the India team had already left the ground.

After considering the evidence, Mike Procter of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees decided Yuvraj had not stood his ground in protest.

Explaining his finding, Mr Procter said: "It was evident that Yuvraj took more time than normal to leave the crease but it was due to the fact that he was shocked at the decision.

"At no stage he showed displeasure or dissent at the umpire’s decision," he added.

The hearing was attended by the four umpires, India manager Chetan Chauhan, captain Anil Kumble and Yuvraj Singh. Video evidence was used.

If found guilty, the penalties for a Level 1 offence range from an official reprimand to a maximum penalty of a fifty per cent fine of a player's match fee.

The full ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Officials can be found at:

http://in.yimg.com/icccricket/pdfs/code-of-conduct-for-players-and-officials.pdf