Breaking News - Afridi banned for 1 Test and 2 ODIs

[Kirsty Harris]

I'm pleased to see that action has been taken so promptly in this matter. It was quite a strange moment yesterday to see Afridi's actions. How he thought no one was going to notice I really can't imagine.

I think the ICC have got it about right, on this occassion - though you would hope he has learned his lesson. Any future offenses should be met with more severe penalty's being imposed, IMO.

[Andy Mellon]

Hmmm. I still feel the punishment is a little bit light. I would be interested to know if there are set penalties for different levels of infractions of the rules. This was a 'level 3' violation and warranted a 1 test, 2 ODI ban. Shoaib Akhtar was investigated (and I think found guilty) of a 'level 1' violation for having adverts that were above the allowed size on his batting gloves (!?!) and fined 20% of his match fee!

What I feel a little concerned about is that in county cricket, Keith Piper (Cannabis) and Graeme Wagg (cocaine) were found guilty of taking drugs and banned for 6 months and 18 months respectively! Now, there is a legal implication of drugs taking which should be dealt with by the law, but an 18 month ban in these instances - especially Piper's - seems a little draconian when deliberate interference with the pitch only warrants a 1 test, 2 ODI ban! Both seem pretty woeful things for role-models to be doing! I should also point out that I wasn't proposing a 6 month up front ban for Afridi, maybe 2 test and 3 ODIs, just so that there's an impact on Pakistan's next tour so that the punishment isn't solely in relation to the England test series.

On your other point, Maranello, if Bell could be proved to have claimed a catch he knew he didn't take, then a decent level of punishment should be warranted. I don't see that Harmison should suffer any fine/ban for his run out of Inzamam - it was bad sportsmanship and it would probably be a good idea for the match referee to sit down with him and Vaughan and discuss these types of attempted dismissal. I don't know why you mention Flintoff at all though, I wasn't aware he'd done anything wrong?

[cantplaycantalk]

Well considering that Pakistan were beneficiaries of a similar dismissal Shoaib to Tendulkar in 1999 they really have no leg to stand on re Harmison.

[Occasional Fan]

Originally Posted by Andy Mellon

I would be interested to know if there are set penalties for different levels of infractions of the rules.

The Code of Conduct sets out penalty ranges for each level of offence. For a level three offence, the punishments specified are a ban of two to four test matches or four to eight ODIs. According to the Code, the ICC uses an "exchange rate" of 2 ODIs being equal to 1 test, so Afridi's punishment is the minimum which could have been awarded for his offence. Presumably, in setting this minimum punishment, his contrition was taken into account. However, like you, Andy, I am surprised that the punishment is at the absolute rock bottom of the range for what was a pretty blatant offence.

Sterner penalties apply for a repetition of a level three offence within twelve months: such a repetition would automatically constitute a level four offence, carrying a penalty of a ban for 5 tests to life (or ten ODIs to life). However, it seems to me that an offence at a lower level than level three will be treated on its own merits (or demerits), unless I have missed something (i.e. if the offender commits, say, a level one offence in the next twelve months, he will be subject only to the penalties specified for such a level one offence).

The Code of Conduct is here for anyone interested in reading it (and I believe this is relatively new: it has certainly changed its form at some point since I reviewed it in connection with Michael Vaughan's offence of criticising the umpires).

[flanflinger]

Another point, looks like Shoiab will go before the match referee for his celebration, this would be his second offence - although the other one was just petty - he could end up losing all his match fee at this rate!!

[flanflinger]

Sky have just showed the incident again..

I did not know that he went to the other end and did the same!! Plus you can see real damage after his foot as ripped into the pitch!!

[Zainub]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

Another point, looks like Shoiab will go before the match referee for his celebration, this would be his second offence - although the other one was just petty - he could end up losing all his match fee at this rate!!

Shoaib could have avoided doing so, but I don't think it was something directed towards KP (as Beefy and Waqar seem to suggest at the time the incident occured from the commentary box). I don't think KP even realised Shoaib was celebrating in the way he did as he had his back to Shoaib. It is quite possible it might have been some lame, old, standing joke between the team members themselves, it is a well documented fact in the Pakistani press that Shoaib gets a lot of friendly stick from his team mates for his wicket celebrations - may be this was some new joke. I don't think they referee should over react to this. But given the inncidents yesterday, Shoaib could have definitely avoided this.

And M,

Just a point or two about moving on. It is good that Afridi has made an apology. That is what every expected him to do, but I don't quite like the way the apology came. No direct quotes, just something Mahanam related to. Given the gravity of his offence, he should have apologised publically to the English team, to his Pakistani team mates, to the officials and above all to the fans. He lets us all down after all.

To the question of the fine being adequate or not, I just like to think of it for a second by looking at the situation from a different perspective. If such a thing was done by an England player and he would have recieved the same punishment, it would have rubbed salt in my woulds to see him come in and bowl today and get two wickets. Why doesn't the ICC Code of Conduct have any provisions for immediate bans, the sort of thing that could prevent Afridi from taking futher part in this match? This is the kind of offence that would deserve something in that context more then a 2 or 3 match ban.

[Occasional Fan]

I guess the usual approach, and perhaps the one foreseen by the people who drafted the Code, is to take the hearings at the end of the match rather than part way through. It would be difficult to ban an offender part way through a match, since that would potentially bring the Laws and the Code into conflict. Would we allow a substitute? Would the substitute be allowed to bat or bowl? If not, is it not a case of collective punishment being levied against the team rather than against the sole offender? And would that be just? And what would happen to an offender's right to appeal against "conviction" (as opposed to sentence)? If he has had to miss even one day of a match prior to being acquitted on appeal, that is surely unfair on all parties?

Initially, Zainub, I was with you on this point - I think I even raised it somewhere on the board. But on reflection I am content with any ban coming into effect during the next match.

[arsalan660]

this is really a surprize thing that afridi did this is ignorance but icc done to much about it

[flanflinger]

Arslan,

Have you seen the incident... there is no ignorance at all in this.

He stood at one end on a good length- twisted round digging his boots into the pitch, then proceded to practice his action down the middle of the pitch, he then stopped at the other end - had a look around to see if anyone was watching - then did the same thing at the other end - leaving a huge divot in the pitch.

He did this while eveyone else was wondering whether the loud bang they had all heard was a bomb or not.

This was not act of ignorance, he has played too many games and must have know what he was doing was 100% wrong, it was a deliberate and cynical act. He has been punished for it, and pleaded guilty.