ICC Cricket Code of Conduct
Encyclopedia
The ICC Cricket Code of Conduct is a regulation regarding the conduct of professional players in the sport
of cricket
. Traditionally, cricket requires "gentlemanly" conduct from all players. The Code of Conduct is written and enforced by the International Cricket Council
.
Under the ICC regulations, players may be fined a percentage of the salary, banned for number of matches, or even banned for a number of years or life. The ICC appoints a match referee
for each Test match
, One Day International and Twenty20
; the Referee has the power to set penalties for most offences, the exceptions being the more serious ones.
The following are the general categories of serious offences, carrying the highest penalties:
Other offences are categorized as Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, or Level 4 as follows:
The penalties available for each offence are based on the level. The penalties are as follows:
Fines in Level 3 and 4 Offences are determined by the ICC without regard to match fee.
Offences relating to gambling or match-fixing carry penalties of bans from 12 months to life, and unlimited fines.
If an offence occurred in a Test match, then the ban for a number of Tests applies; if an offence occurred in an ODI, then the ban for a number of ODIs applies.
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
of cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
. Traditionally, cricket requires "gentlemanly" conduct from all players. The Code of Conduct is written and enforced by the International Cricket Council
International Cricket Council
The International Cricket Council is the international governing body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from England, Australia and South Africa, renamed the International Cricket Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in 1989.The...
.
Under the ICC regulations, players may be fined a percentage of the salary, banned for number of matches, or even banned for a number of years or life. The ICC appoints a match referee
Match referee
A match referee is an official appointed to oversee professional cricket matches. Match referees for Test matches and One Day Internationals are appointed by the International Cricket Council...
for each Test match
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
, One Day International and Twenty20
Twenty20 International
A Twenty20 International is a form of cricket which is played over 20 overs per side between two national cricket teams. The game is played under the rules of Twenty20 cricket...
; the Referee has the power to set penalties for most offences, the exceptions being the more serious ones.
The following are the general categories of serious offences, carrying the highest penalties:
- Gambling on matches (betting).
- Failing to perform in a match in return for a benefit, such as money or goods (match fixingMatch fixingIn organised sports, match fixing, game fixing, race fixing, or sports fixing occurs as a match is played to a completely or partially pre-determined result, violating the rules of the game and often the law. Where the sporting competition in question is a race then the incident is referred to as...
). - Inducing a player to perform one of the above two actions.
- Failure to report certain incidents relating to match-fixing or gambling.
- Other related offences.
Other offences are categorized as Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, or Level 4 as follows:
Level 1
- Breach of the Logo Policy (except for a commercial logo or player's bat logo).
- Abuse of equipment clothing, or any part of the ground.
- Showing dissent at an umpireUmpire (cricket)In cricket, an umpire is a person who has the authority to make judgements on the cricket field, according to the Laws of Cricket...
's decision by word or by action. - Using language or a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting.
- Excessive appealingAppeal (cricket)In the sport of cricket, an appeal is the act of a player on the fielding team asking an umpire for a decision regarding whether a batsman is out or not. According to the Laws of Cricket, an umpire may not rule a batsman out unless the fielding side appeals...
. - Aggressive pointing towards the pavilion by a member of the fielding side upon the dismissal of a batsman.
Level 2
- Repeat of any Level 1 Offence within 12 months.
- Showing serious dissent at an umpire's decision by word or action.
- Breach of the Logo Policy relating to a commercial logo or a player's cricket batCricket batA cricket bat is a specialised piece of equipment used by batsmen in the sport of cricket to hit the ball. It is usually made of willow wood. Its use is first mentioned in 1624....
logo. - Public criticism of a match related incident or match official.
- Inappropriate and deliberate physical contact between players during play.
- Aggressively charging towards an umpire while appealing.
- Deliberate distraction or obstruction on the field.
- Throwing the cricket ballCricket ballA cricket ball is a hard, solid leather ball used to play cricket. Constructed of cork and leather, a cricket ball is heavily regulated by cricket law at first class level...
at a player, umpire or official in a dangerous manner. - Using language or a gesture that is obscene, offensive or of a seriously insulting nature to another player, umpire, referee, team official or spectator.
- Changing the condition of the ball in breach of Law 42.3.
- Any attempt to manipulate a match in regard to the result (In a negative way), net run rate, bonus points or otherwise. (Example: Intentionally losing so that a team will face a weaker opponent in the Finals.)
Level 3
- Repeat of any Level 2 Offence within 12 months.
- Intimidation of an umpire or referee.
- Threat of assault on a player, team official, or spectator.
- Using language or gestures that offends race, religion, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin.
Level 4
- Repeat for any Level 3 Offence within 12 months.
- Threat of assault on an umpire or referee.
- Physical assault of another player, umpire, referee, official or spectator.
- Any act of violence during play.
- Using language or gestures that seriously offends race, religion, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin.
The penalties available for each offence are based on the level. The penalties are as follows:
- Level 1: Fine of 0% to 50% of match fee.
- Level 2: Fine of 50% to 100% of match fee and/or ban for 1 Test or 2 ODIs.
- Level 3: Ban for 2 to 4 Tests or 4 to 8 ODIs.
- Level 4: Ban for 5 Tests to life or 10 ODIs to life.
Fines in Level 3 and 4 Offences are determined by the ICC without regard to match fee.
Offences relating to gambling or match-fixing carry penalties of bans from 12 months to life, and unlimited fines.
If an offence occurred in a Test match, then the ban for a number of Tests applies; if an offence occurred in an ODI, then the ban for a number of ODIs applies.