ITCF Code of Conduct

PLAYERS & TEAM OFFICIALS

• It is the responsibility of captains at all times to ensure that the play is being conducted within the spirit of the game and the laws of cricket are being followed.
• No player or team official, at any time, shall engage him in conduct which would bring him or the game in disrepute.
• The umpire’s decision will be final and shall be accepted by players and team officials. Any form of dissent, by a player or team official, on umpire’s decision will not be allowed.
• The players and team officials shall not involve themselves in attempt or the act of intimidation, assault to an umpire, any player or a spectator.
• Neither a player nor the team official shall use crude or abusive language or make offensive gesture.
• The use and the activities concerning with distribution of illegal drugs, directly or indirectly, by the players and team officials are totally prohibited.
• The players and team officials are not allowed to make any public pronouncement or media comment about the arrangement and facilities provided in a tournament or match to disgrace it.
• The players and the team officials in any way shall not engage them in betting, gambling or any form of financial speculation on the outcome of any cricket match, to which the code applies and in which the player is a participant or with which a team official is associated.
• The players shall use commercial logo on their dress or equipment, with the permission and direction of ITCF only.

APPLICATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE CODE

This code of conduct shall be enforced on:

• All players and team officials of the teams taking part in all domestic matches playing under the banner of ITCF or its unit.
• All players and officials of touring teams playing matches in India, under supervision of ITCF or its unit.
• All office bearers of ITCF member units, umpires, scorers and persons directly involved in ITCF activities.

The player or the official shall be liable for disciplinary action, on breaching the code as under:

• In case of National or International level matches, the Referee, appointed by ITCF, will decide the matter, going through the procedure and guidelines laid for him.
• In other matches, where Referee is not appointed and the incident is referred to ITCF, the Disciplinary Action Committee shall consider the matter and shall take the action at appropriate time, following the procedures and guidelines laid down for the Referee.

ITCF MATCH REFEREE

He will be the independent representative of ITCF (appointed by the chairman or the chief Executive) in all National and International level matches. The main objective behind his appointment is:-

• To ensure that the game is played according to the laws and the spirit of the game is observed during the match by players, umpires and team officials , either on or off the field.
• To observe if any type of unfair play is followed or tried up by any member of both teams, on the field.

Before the start of the match/tournament, the referee shall have a briefing with captains, vice captains, umpires and the organizing authorities.

He shall discuss about the standard expected from the players, making it clear that the captains are responsible for their teams and for the good conduct of the game.

He must clear it that no public criticism of umpires will be tolerated. It should also be clear to captains by Referee that in the event of a team incident where a player is not individually identified, the captain will be sanctioned on behalf of the team.

The players, as well as officials, must also be made aware about ITCF policy on advertisement. If it is not followed a fine applicable to both officials and players can result.

THE DUTIES OF REFEREE

• To adjudicate the matter if any breach of the ITCF code of the conduct is observed.
• To impose penalty for slow over rate.
• To penalize the player for deliberate act of unfair play..
• To penalize the players or officials for infringements of ITCF regulations relating to advertising on cricket clothing and equipments.
• To support umpires, if required, after ensuring that the conduct of the game is upheld by umpires in accordance with Laws of cricket and ITCF standard playing conditions.
• To report to ITCF, the matters relating to players’ safety at the ground, pitch and outfield conditions, availability of covers and other equipments, the conditions and standard of facilities for players and umpires, standard of practice facilities and bowlers with suspect action.

THE KIND OF OFFENCES AND PENALTIES FOR THEM

The offences of breaching the code are categorized in four groups, depending upon the nature of offence. In the same way different penalties are fixed for different level of offence accordingly.

THE LEVEL 1:

Offence consists upon breaching of Logo Policy , abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, showing dissent at an umpire’s decision, or by action or verbal abuse , using offensive or insulting language or making an obscene gesture , excessive appealing and making an inappropriate comment on a match related incident or match official.

• The penalty for above offences under level 1 shall be an official warning and a fine as decided by Referee.

THE LEVEL 2:

The offences at level 2 are of higher grade and include repeat of level 1 offence within a year, verbal abuse or action for serious dissent at umpire’s decision, breaching the logo policy, an inappropriate comment or public criticism on a match related incident or match official, deliberately obstruction on the field of play, deliberate inappropriate physical contact between players during the play, aggressive mannered appeals with umpires, throwing the ball at a player or umpire or official in dangerous manner to hit him, using offensive or insulting nature language to another player, official, umpire, Referee or spectator. Any unfair attempt to effect the result or net run rate of a match will also be regarded as Level 2 offence and captain of the team guilty for such manipulation will be held responsible.

• The penalty for these offences may be a fine and or ban for one or two matches, as decided by the Referee.

THE LEVEL 3:

It includes misbehavior with an umpire or Referee whether by words or action, threat of assault on another player, team official or spectator, using offensive or insulting language or gesture or religion, gender, colour or nationality.

• The penalty for breaching the code by these offences is monetary fine as well as ban for some matches as the Referee decides.

THE LEVEL 4:

The offences at this level 4 include the threat of assault to an umpire or Referee and the physical assault to any player, umpire, Referee, official or spectator. It also includes any act of violence on the field of play.

• The penalty for such offences depends upon the seriousness of the act and other than the heavy fine it includes the ban for some matches or the life ban for player or the official concerned.