Is another breaking the Code of Conduct?
The opener of the Pakistan Cricket Team Imran Farhat has
not found guilty of breaking the ICC Code of Conduct in
second test match against South Africa in Port Elizabeth.
Imran Farhat was claimed with a Level 2 offence under the
clause C 1 of the Code of Conduct of ICC which says: "Players
and/or Team Officials shall at all times conduct play within
the spirit of the game as well as within the Laws of Cricket...".
The charge was laid by four umpires on duty in the match
including on field officials Billy Doctrove and Peter Parker,
third umpire Rudi Koertzen and fourth umpire Brain Jerling
on the first day of test, on Friday.
This situation created after the appealed of Imran Farhat
against catch from Batsman Ashwell Prince. This appeal was
transmitted to third upimre to decide to out or not. The
umpire confused to decide to out because he had doubt either
ball hit the ground or not. After transmission to third
umpire, the third umpire decided the ball had touched the
ball to ground. At the response, the umpires decided to
charge for Imran Farhat in the case tried to misguide.
On next day, at Saturday the hearing took place. After
considering the situation by match referee Chris Broad decided
Imran Farhat did not try to misguide.
"One of the key aspects
in favour of the fielder in this instance was that no one
questioned the validity of the catch at the time,"
said Broad.
"It was only when it was referred to the third umpire
that it became clear the ball had not carried”.
"That ties in with my
experience as a cricketer as I know it is possible to believe
you have caught the ball when others may have seen it bounce
beforehand."
The coach of the Pakistan Cricket Team, and the Team Manager
of Pakistan Team Talit Ali also advocated for Imran Farhat
in decision making. The advocates of Imran Farhat said:”Imran
says, he is also unsure about catch”.
"Taking all these factors
into account I am satisfied this was simply a case of a
genuine and honest mistake by the fielder and so I found
him not guilty of the charge," Board added.
The participants of the hearing were by the four umpires,
Woolmer, Talit Ali and Imran Farhat.
If Imran Farhat found in guilty then he will face a punishment
of 50% of match fee and to ban one test or two ODIs.
If found guilty, the penalties for a Level 2 offence range
from a fine equivalent to 50 per cent of a player's match
fee to a ban of one Test or two ODIs.
