Briefing Notes for Executive Board, Cricket Committee-Playing and Umpires and Referees Workshop
Cape Town will be the focus for a series of top-level ICC meetings covering the administration and playing of international cricket, over the next fortnight.
The ICC Executive Board meets on the 15th and 16th March, followed by Cricket-Committee-Playing on the 17th and 18th. Three days later the newly appointed panels of ICC Match Referees and Umpires meet for an intensive four-day Workshop, (21st to 24th March).
ICC Executive Board, 15th and 16th March
International cricket's most senior decision makers meet for the first time this year, when Directors will be asked to endorse recommendations covering a wide range of cricket issues.
These will include a revised code of cricket discipline, contract
arrangements for the Future Tours Program and the venue and timetable for the ICC Champions Trophy (formerly ICC Knock Out).
The meeting will seek a resolution to the ICC Referees Commission, which was postponed after requests from Board members to allow further discussion to take place. It will also receive a progress report from Lord Condon on the recent work and future programme of the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit.
Media Focus Point: ICC Code of Conduct-Offences and Penalties
A new, four level system of penalties has been developed to achieve greater consistency in the application of cricket discipline. Each level matches a range of Code breaches with recommended minimum and maximum penalties.
For example, a first time Level 1 breach for dissent could be penalised by a minimum of a reprimand, with a maximum of a 50% match fee fine. If repeated, the breach moves up to a Level 2 offence, punishable by a full match fee fine and a Test or ODI suspension.
Level 4 Code breaches, which would include threats and
violence, would incur a minimum of a five Test or 10 ODI ban, with a life ban in the most extreme cases.
Cricket Committee-Playing, 17th and 18th March
CC-P will meet under the chairmanship of Sunil Gavaskar to review on-field playing matters relating to international cricket. Delegates will consider a far-reaching paper from ICC management proposing an extension of the use of technology to aid decision making.
It will also discuss the future use of bonus points in One Day International tournaments, following the unsatisfactory aspects highlighted in the VB Series in Australia.
Another proposal is the adoption of post Test match meetings between
captains, umpires and match referees, to provide a forum to discuss issues, including umpiring decisions, arising during the match.
Media Focus Point: Extending Technology in Decision Making
CC-P delegates will discuss a proposal from ICC Management that would allow field umpires to consult with the third umpire on any aspect of a decision they were unsure of. Consultation would be optional, but when called for decisions would be reached as soon as possible, ideally within 20 seconds.
Line decisions, hit wicket and boundary referrals would continue to be decided by the TV umpire, as per the present system.
If approved by CC-P, the system would be piloted at the ICC Champions Trophy tournament in September. The ultimate aim of the proposal is to help reach correct decisions more consistently, while maintaining the umpire's authority as the final decision maker.
Umpires & Referees Workshop, 21st to 24th March
The 13 members of the new Umpires and Referee panels will meet for an
intensive Workshop ahead of taking up their international duties in April.
This will include seminars covering legal and procedural matters relating to cricket discipline, application of Playing Conditions, IT training, a presentation from the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit, the psychology of decision making, medical, fitness and media training.
Media Access in Cape Town:
1. An ICC Executive Board media briefing will take place with
Malcolm Gray, President, Malcolm Speed, CEO and Lord Condon, Director of the Anti-Corruption Unit, on the afternoon of Saturday, 16th March in the Pavilion Conference Centre, Waterfront, Cape Town.
2. There will be media access to Sunil Gavaskar, David
Richardson and Malcolm Speed at the conclusion of the ICC CC-P meeting, on the afternoon of Monday, 18th March at the Pavilion Conference Centre, Waterfront, Cape Town.
3. The Umpires and Referees Workshop will be held outside Cape Town. Limited media access will be available by prior arrangement with ICC Communications Manager Mark Harrison.
Would media travelling to Cape Town to cover these meetings contact
Mark Harrison or David Clarke to confirm their attendance.
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