Arshad Ali receives reprimand for code of conduct breach

UAE all-rounder pleads guilty to charge of attempting to influence an umpire’s decision

United Arab Emirates all-rounder Arshad Ali has received an official reprimand after breaching the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Team Officials during the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier in South Africa.

The player pleaded guilty to an offence contrary to C1 of the code, which deals with conduct that is contrary to the spirit of cricket. He was found to have attempted to influence a decision of the umpire while batting during his team’s two-wicket victory over the Netherlands at Potchefstroom Cricket Ground on Saturday.

The incident in question took place when the fielding side appealed for a caught behind. At that point Arshad, who was the batsman on strike, immediately pointed to his shoulder in an effort to secure a not-out decision from the umpire.

The incident was reported by on-field umpires Enamul Hoque-Moni and Ian Howell of the Emirates International Panel of ICC Umpires as well as third umpire Jeff Luck and a hearing was convened after the match by Roshan Mahanama of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees.

After giving Arshad the official reprimand, Mr Mahanama said: “It can be very tempting for a batsman, who feels he is not out, to try to influence the decision of the umpire.

“However, the independence of the umpire is vitally important and any attempt to influence him is contrary to the spirit of the game. This specific matter was addressed at the captains’ briefing before the start of the tournament so the players were made aware of it,” he said.

The hearing was attended by the match referee, the player, the three umpires and UAE captain Khuram Khan and team manager Mohammad Lokhandwala.

To view the full ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Team Officials go to http://www.icc-cricket.com./rules_and_regulations.php.

Background information to the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2009:

In total there are eight venues being used for 54 matches played over 19 days with 12 teams fighting it out for the four qualification places on offer in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

The ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier, formerly known as the ICC Trophy, incorporates Divisions 1 and 2 of the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League and is the gateway for the top Associate and Affiliate teams into the premier one-day tournament in the world.

Among the teams are Afghanistan and Uganda, which both qualified from January’s Pepsi World Cricket League Division 3 event in Buenos Aires. The WCL was created to provide a clear pathway for teams outside the top 10 towards improvement and ultimately, the ICC Cricket World Cup. This global event gives ICC Associate and Affiliate Members the opportunity to play similarly ranked sides in meaningful competition regardless of where they are located in the world.

The 12 teams taking part in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier are split into two groups of six teams. Ireland, Scotland, Canada, Oman, Namibia and Uganda make up Group A while Kenya, Netherlands, Bermuda, UAE, Denmark and Afghanistan form Group B.

Each side plays the other teams in its group once with the top four from the groups progressing to the Super Eight stage. The teams each play four Super Eight matches against the sides they did not meet in the group stage. All points won in the groups will be carried over to the Super Eight stage apart from those gained against the bottom two from each group.

The top two teams in the Super Eight stage will contest the final to be played at Centurion on 19 April. The third and fourth-placed sides will play-off at Potchefstroom, the fifth and sixth-placed sides play off at Willowmoore Park while the seventh and eighth-placed teams play off at Stan Friedman Oval, Krugersdorp.

The top four sides at the event qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. The top six teams secure ODI status until 2013, gain a place at the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier later this year and also qualify automatically for the ICC Intercontinental Cup 2009-10.

The bottom two teams from the CWCQ, which incorporates Divisions 1 and 2 of the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League, will be relegated to Division 3.