Related Link : Pakistan in England 2006
Pakistan’s Skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq, the first Test Captain in the history of the game to forfeit a match will face an ICC Code of Conduct hearing on Friday regarding two issues. The first charge against Inzamam is a big one that of bringing the game into disrepute by refusing to get his side onto the ground for fielding during the post tea session of The Oval Test. The second charge levied on him is ball-tampering. If Inzamam is found guilty, then he will be banned for eight ODIs or four Tests. The ICC has appointed former Sri Lankan Test Batsman and International Match Referee – Ranjan Madugalle for conducting the hearing on this case on Friday in London. The Pakistan team has already expressed its unwillingness to continue the ongoing English tour if Inzamam does get the ban, which is believed that he would get. However, Inzamam would be allowed to appeal against the decision if found guilty within 24 hours and he can continue to play International Cricket until the outcome of the appeal comes out.
The ICC has already extended its full support to the onfield Umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove in their decisions during the controversial fourth day’s play. The Pakistan Cricket Board has been backing its players in this case and stands firm on their appeal to prevent Darrell Hair from officiating any matches involving Pakistan in the future. The Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf and many former Cricketers have praised Inzamam’s decision of refusing to play after being put under the cloud of being cheats. According to Inzy, playing the game is much more than just winning or losing and he had put his country’s pride infront of a solitary Test Match win. He has already issued a warning to the ICC that if he is not cleared of the ball-tampering charge then it leaves no option but to pack the bags and head back to Pakistan leaving the upcoming Twenty20 International and the following 5-One Day Internationals Series in jeopardy. The ECB will be losing an estimated 19 million US Dollars if Pakistan does not take any further part on their tour.
As far as the ball-tampering case is concerned, there was no television capture of any Pakistan fielder changing the condition of the ball deliberately. Sky Sports, the TV Broadcaster of the Series had 26 cameras installed at various angles but hasn’t been able to capture any wrong doing from any Pakistani player. The Pakistan Cricket Board has insisted that there were hardly one or two insignificant scuff marks which might have been caused by the impact of the ball hitting the hard advertising hoardings outside the boundaries. Friday will be one tough day for the ICC as the outcome of the disciplinary hearing would be critical in deciding the future of the One Day Series. Pakistan do not mind if Inzy is found guilty of bringing the game in disrepute but it will raise serious objections if the hearing from Madugalle finds Inzamam guilty of the ball-tampering charge.