Sport

Sledging issue: ICC asks captains to lead by example

Mumbai: Acknowledging that certain unpleasant events in the India-Australia series highlighted the issue of sledging, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has asked the captains of international teams, CEO’s of Full Members, High Performance ODI teams, Elite Panel umpires and Referees, to learn lessons in order to take the game forward in a positive way.

Signed by the ICC CEO Malcolm Speed and David Richardson, General Manager, Cricket, the three-page note has stressed the need to completely avoid “Obscene, offensive or insulting language”.

“Recent events and, in particular, the series between Australia and India have highlighted the issue of “sledging”. We seek your support in learning lessons from these issues and moving forward in a positive way. We acknowledge that every incident is highlighted and sensationalised in the media, often with very little objectivity, but the fact remains that there have been several controversial incidents on the field in international cricket which originated from the use by players of language or gestures which are considered obscene, offensive or insulting (we will hereafter refer to such language or gestures simply as “offensive”)”, have said Speed and Richardson.

The ICC has further said: “Players are asked to take their responsibility as role models seriously and to make an effort to improve their behaviour in this regard. Captains are requested to lead by example and to ensure that they keep tight control over the behaviour of their players. There is no question that international cricket must be played with intensity and with no quarter asked nor given but within the bounds of mutual respect and the spirit of the game.”

The ICC’s CEC meeting was held in the third week of February in Kuala Lumpur and India’s Niranjan Shah and Sunil Gavaskar voiced concerns about sledging and said that it should be banned. Last week Gavaskar had told The Hindu that the personal abuse factor will come down.

Speed and Richardson have further said: “This letter is specifically directed at preventing offensive language directed at another person be it a fellow player, official or spectator. You will appreciate that this is not an easy issue. International cricket is played and followed by people from a wide range of cultures. What is offensive to some may not be considered so by others. The ICC Code of Conduct seeks to explain carefully the circumstances in which conduct will be considered to have fallen below an acceptable level.

Using language that is obscene, offensive or of a seriously insulting nature to another Player, Umpire, Referee, Team Official or Spectator. Guideline: This is any language or gesture which is directed at another person or persons. In exercising his judgement as to whether the behaviour has fallen below an acceptable standard, the umpire shall be required to take into account the context of the particular situation and whether the words or gesture are likely to: (1) be regarded as obscene; or (2) give offence; or (3) insult another person.

“It is impossible to define which words or combination of words will be regarded as offensive and there will always be a need to take into account the context in which the words are used and for the umpire to apply a degree of individual interpretation and judgement. We are, however, asking you as players to raise the bar and to set and respect new standards. Players are asked to show a greater level of respect to their opponents, umpires and referees and to recognise that swearing is regarded by the majority of people as obscene, offensive or insulting.”

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