ICC holsters guns, awaits Yard report on match-fixing

He added that the Code of Conduct Commission, headed by Lord Hugh Griffiths, has been asked to review the reports of the 1997 inquiry conducted by Justice YV Chandrachud for BCCI, and the 1999 Australian Cricket Board (ACB) inquiry by lawyer O’Regan.

Lord Griffiths will be assisted by Sir Oliver Popplewell (England) and Justice Sachs (South Africa) in the two cases. The panel is to meet later this month to discuss the issue.

Meanwhile, ICC has proposed stringent measures to combat “unruly behaviour ofspectators at grounds”. It has taken serious view of the threat of “crowd invasions and the risk of objects being thrown at players and umpires”.

The ICC will impose heavy fines on associations not adhering to the rules. ICC will also consider cancelling international status for venues if crowd trouble continues at these places, he said.

“No spectator has the right to enter the field during play and until after the players and umpires have left the field after play. We will urge the spectators to respect the right of the players and umpires. The policy will be communicated to the public before and during matches,” he said.

The executive board also discussed Test status for Bangladesh and decided to send its team of officials to Bangladesh early next year to inspect ground facilities. “ICC is keeping a watch on their performance. West Indies played a few matches in Dhaka recently and other Test-playing natons have been asked to play there to assess the home team’s performance. The issue will onceagain come up in June next year,” Dalmiya said.

The ICC chief said the executive board wanted a uniform policy about Test matches and a “programme was being chalked out under which in a 10-year cycle each country must meet the other once at home and away.” However, regular series, like the Ashes, Frank Worrell Trophy etc will not be disturbed, he added.

World Cup 2003: The ICC is actively considering increasing the number of participants from 12 to 14 for the next World Cup, in South Africa in 2003. The format will also be discussed in the next meeting, in Singapore in February, Dalmiya said. The second edition of under-19 World Cup will be held in Sri Lanka from January 11-28 next year, when 16 teams will participate.

ICC Trophy in Nairobi: The ICC knockout tournament will be held in Nairobi from October 3-15 next year. Eleven teams will take part.