| Sports |
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| Antigua ground faces stiff ICC sanction |
| ST JOHNS , Antigua, Feb 14, 2009 (AFP) - |
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| ICC’s Chief Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle will sit in judgement once the report is sent |
Cricket's World governing body says the immediate future of the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground (VRCG) will now be subject to the state of its pitch and outfield monitoring process.
Haroon Lorgat, chief executive officer of the International Cricket Council (ICC), suggested that the World body has the power to impose a sanction, following the abandonment of the second Test between West Indies and England on Friday.
The penalty for the VRCG could range from a warning or a fine up to a suspension of international status for the venue.
"I think the ultimate measure that we can adopt is that we can take away the status of the venue as a Test match ground," Lorgat said.
"The fact that the West Indies may have foreseen something is a question that has to be put to the member board, and I think we will do what we have to do in terms of the sanction for this particular venue."
The ICC's pitch and outfield monitoring process was introduced three years ago to ensure that international cricket is played in conditions of a suitably high standard.
The first stage of the process is for ICC Match Referee Allan Hurst to submit a report to the governing body concerning the quality of the playing surface.
Once he does so then the ICC will write to the West Indies Cricket Board, forwarding that report and asking for a written report of its own on the condition of the surface including any extenuating circumstances which may have existed.
Once the WICB's report is submitted then the ICC's General Manager - Cricket, David Richardson, and the ICC's chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle will consider all the evidence, including studying video footage, before passing judgment.
nI think this is a wonderful lesson for us all," Lorgat said.
nTo the best of my understanding there is no process in place that a Test match venue is re-checked once it's accredited.
nAs far as I am concerned, we accredit venues and the match referees report on the status of that venue after every game.
nWith this example however, we will have to tighten up on some of those procedures that we have in place.
A new Test match, to be staged at the Antigua Recreation Ground, begins on Sunday and Lorgat was grateful that arrangements could be put in place to stage a replacement Test, particularly with a large number of British visitors paying hefty sums to travel and to attend.
He also agreed that the timing of the abandoned Test was unfortunate since this version of the sport was facing a severe battle to stay relevant in the modern era, especially with the advent of Twenty20 cricket.
"We are trying to promote Test cricket. . .We all hold it very dear to our hearts. . .It is the pinnacle of the game," he said. "This is not something for which we would have wished. It has come at an unfortunate time, but we will have to do what we have to do to try and get this Test match played.
Given the short period of time between to prepare for the Test at the ARG, the ICC has taken the decision that the new Test will take place without the umpire decision review system.
The trial will resume with the Test match in Barbados which will start on February 26.
The second Test will now have the ignominy of being the shortest in the history of the game. |
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