International Cricket Council rejects BCCI’s review petition for Jadeja-Anderson row

James Anderson and Ravindra Jadeja had an altercation during the first Test in Trent Bridge. ICC Judicial Commissioner Gordon Lewis had given a verdict saying that both the players were not guilty of breaching ICC’s code of conduct.

The BCCI had requested ICC CEO Dave Richardson on Tuesday to appeal against the verdict. But the ICC rejected BCCI’s review plea on Wednesday and declared the verdict was satisfying and that they were satisfied with the manner in which the decisions were reached.

ICC CEO Richardson said that it was a complicated and sensitive case. After conflicting evidence on both sides and carefully considering the decision by Gordon Lewis, no purpose would be served by prolonging the process through further appeals. Richardson stressed that disciplinary procedures were robust and all parties had ample opportunity to test the evidence and make submissions. Hence they have determined that there was no merit in an appeal.

However, on the topic of use of offensive language, Richardson said that there is no place for the use of offensive language in the game which is personally insulting of one player by another. ICC chairman N Srinivasan had decided to stay neutral in the matter as it involves the Indian team and the decision was entirely with Richardson as he had time till August 10 to appeal.

Former Indian wicket-keeper, Farokh Engineer blamed the ICC and its match referee David Boon for allowing the controversy to fester. He said that if Dhoni says that he saw Jimmy (Anderson) push Jadeja and then Jimmy has been naughty. He felt ridiculous that the match has been dragged on for so long. If he had been the match referee he would have had Jimmy and Jadeja sort it out among them by apologising to each other in five minutes.