Gambhir and Afridi fined for ICC Code of Conduct breaches
Punishments follow altercation during third ODI in Kanpur
India’s Gautam Gambhir and Shahid Afridi of Pakistan have both been fined after being found guilty of breaching the ICC’s Code of Conduct during their sides’ ODI in Kanpur on Sunday.
Gambhir has been fined a total of 65 per cent of his match fee while Afridi’s fine comes to a total of 95 per cent of his match fee.
The punishments were handed down by ICC match referee Roshan Mahanama of the Emirates Elite Panel, following hearings in Gwalior on Wednesday.
The players were each charged under two counts of the ICC Code of Conduct, C2, at Level 2, “…conduct unbecoming to their status which could bring them or the game of cricket into disrepute,” and Level 2.4 which relates to “inappropriate and deliberate physical contact between players in the course of play.”
The charges were laid by ICC Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Speed and related to an incident which took place during the India innings.
Gambhir hit the third ball of an Afridi over for four and there was then a verbal exchange between the two players. Then, from the next ball, Gambhir looked to work the ball on the onside.
The ball deflected out onto the off-side, Gambhir took a single and, in the process of doing so, batsman and bowler collided.
A heated altercation took place between the two players that forced umpire Ian Gould of the Emirates International Panel, standing at the bowler’s end, to get involved.
Gambhir was fined 50 per cent of his match fee for being found guilty of the offence of inappropriate and deliberate physical contact and 15 per cent of his fee for the disrepute charge.
Afridi was fined 75 per cent of his match fee for the offence of inappropriate and deliberate physical contact and 20 per cent of his fee for the disrepute charge.
The match referee downgraded both disrepute charges to Level 1, something he is entitled to do under the Code of Conduct.
Commenting on his findings, Mr Mahanama said: “Both players pleaded not guilty to the charges but even if the collision between them was viewed as an accident I still felt it was inappropriate.
“On top of that, there was a build up to that incident and then they stood toe-to-toe arguing in mid-pitch immediately afterwards.
“It is not the sort of example that players should be setting at any time, least of all in a series as high-profile as this one.
“Physical contact is creeping into the game more and more and by handing down these punishments I want to get the message out to all players that it is unacceptable and must not happen.
“In handing down these fines I took into account the fact that this was the first time Gautam Gambhir has appeared before a disciplinary hearing, hence his punishment is below that of Shahid Afridi.
“I downgraded one of the charges to a Level 1 offence because I took into account the fact that both players were spoken to by umpire Gould, something which stopped any continuation of their confrontation, and that there was no further issue involving either player in the rest of the match.”
The hearing involving Shahid Afridi was attended by the player charged, as well as Pakistan team manager Talit Ali and captain Shoaib Malik; Gautam Gambhir’s hearing was attended by team manager Lalchand Rajput and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Both hearings were attended by one of the on-field umpires Amiesh Saheba while the other on-field official Ian Gould participated via telephone.
Video evidence was used during both hearings.
Level 2 breaches of the ICC Code of Conduct carry a minimum penalty of a fine of 50 per cent of a player's match fee up to a fine of all that fee and/or a one Test match or two ODI ban.
A player does have a right of appeal in the case of Level 2, 3 and 4 offences. Such an appeal must be lodged in writing with the ICC's Legal Counsel within 24 hours of the decision being handed down.
