The ICC will fine and suspend players found guilty of poor on-field behaviour.
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Excessive sledging at the Cricket World Cup will see players fined and banned as the International Cricket Council (ICC) look to stamp out poor on-field behaviour.
ICC chief executive David Richardson says the crackdown is needed as “unacceptable” player behaviour has marred matches over recent months.
Richardson’s words were no doubt a thinly veiled warning at Australia and India players after verbal battles became the main talking point of both the Test and one-day series.
“I suppose it started a few months back already that the behaviour in some matches by some players was deemed to be unacceptable and not a good example to young fans watching the game,” Richardson is quoted as saying by Reuters.
“I think there’s been something like 12-13 code of conduct charges laid in the last few months in bilateral series.”
The likes of David Warner and India captain Virat Kohli were fined for conduct breaches during the sometimes ill-tempered recent Test series between the two nations.
“The crack down had already started. I think the teams are going to be told that the umpires intend to remains firm, that the penalties handed out by the match referees will be perhaps a little bit more serious or higher than before but that hopefully everyone will be treated equally and fairly.
“For a first offence, you’ll likely end up with a fine which no players likes, handing back most of his match fee.
“But certainly a repeat offence, not only in this tournament but some players already sitting with offences behind their name, will be punished with a suspension.”
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