New Zealand Cricket wins appeal as part of overall drive for improvement in player conduct at all levels

New Zealand Cricket wins appeal as part of overall drive for improvement in player conduct at all levels
New Zealand Cricket - 12 December 2001

An appeal by New Zealand Cricket of a decision by a Central Districts Association Commissioner to censure and not suspend Horowhenua-Kapiti representative cricketer, Aaron Pairama, has been upheld by the National Commissioner of Cricket, Nicholas Davidson QC, with the result that Pairama has now been suspended for one day's play.

The umpires officiating in the district representative match between Horowhenua-Kapiti and Taranaki played at Donnelly Park on 17 September had reported Pairama for verbally abusing a batsman he had just dismissed.

They alleged that the language Pairama had used clearly went over the line as to what is permissible conduct, and constituted "unacceptable behaviour" in terms of rule 2(a) of New Zealand Cricket's Code of Conduct.

The Association Commissioner, in his decision, noted that he regarded a suspension "as appropriate for this kind of misconduct," but, because of Pairama's previous good record, admission of guilt and apology to the umpire and the player concerned, had decided that a severe censure was a sufficient penalty.

In dealing with New Zealand Cricket's appeal of the Association Commissioner's decision, the National Commissioner, Mr Davidson, ruled that Pairama's behaviour was "a clear and serious breach of the rule prohibiting unacceptable conduct" and that it was "entirely gratuitous in nature."

Mr Davidson went on to say that Pairama's good record and contrition had impacted on his decision to suspend him for one day's play only and that "for unacceptable behaviour of this type, suspension would be standard and that it may well exceed one match."

Concluding, Mr Davidson stated that "This decision should be seen in context. Cricket must include banter and humour. It will also tolerate emotions of disappointment and excitement, and elements of challenge in hard competition. It will not tolerate personal abuse and will deal firmly with that and any other breaches of the Code of Conduct."

New Zealand Cricket CEO Martin Snedden had appealed the Association Commissioner's decision on the basis that it was too lenient and because NZC was determined to see an improvement in on field player behaviour by ensuring that appropriate penalties are imposed where there are proven breaches of the Code of Conduct.

"The policy of New Zealand Cricket is that players at all levels should play cricket in the right spirit and within the laws of the game and that players who choose not to do so should be appropriately penalised," said Snedden.

"It is now imperative that NZC publicly leads this process and that very clear direction is given to everyone involved in cricket in New Zealand that poor player behaviour at all levels will not be tolerated and will be appropriately dealt with.

"I have already given firm directions to the CLEAR Black Caps and to the captains and coaches of each of the six State Championship provincial teams that cricketers at the top levels must lead by example.

"This will then give me the platform to drive for improvements in on field behaviour at lower levels of the game," he said.

Teams	New Zealand.
First Class Teams	Central Districts.
Players/Umpires	Martin Snedden.