South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs has been banned for two Test matches after being found guilty of breaching the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) code of conduct during the first cricket Test against Pakistan at Centurion.
Gibbs was charged under level 3.3 of the code, which prohibits using ”… any language or gestures that offends, insults, humiliates, intimidates, threatens, disparages or vilifies another person on the basis of that person’s race, religion, colour, descent or national or ethic origin”.
The charge, laid by ICC CEO Malcolm Speed, related to an incident that took place shortly before the lunch interval on Sunday when comments were overheard through a stump microphone on the ground.
At the hearing, which was convened by ICC match referee Chris Broad of the Emirates Elite Panel after play concluded on Monday, Gibbs apologised for the remark but pleaded not guilty to the level 3 charge.
Gibbs maintained he was guilty of a level 1 offence, clause 1.4, which refers to the use of ”… language that is obscene, offensive or insulting and/or the making of an obscene gesture”.
However, in finding Gibbs guilty of the level 3 offence, Broad said: ”I took into account the mitigating circumstances that the players were provoked by unruly spectators.
”However, the remark was racially offensive, the player admitted saying it, and on that basis I am content that the level of the charge and the resulting punishment is appropriate.
”Cricket has a zero tolerance of racism, as has been illustrated by the introduction last year of an amended ICC anti-racism code, and this decision is an illustration of that fact.”
Players found guilty of a Level 2, 3 or 4 offence have a right of appeal.
Such an appeal must be lodged in writing with the ICC’s legal counsel within 24 hours of the player receiving the original verdict.
The penalty for a level 3 offence is a ban of between two and four Test matches or between four and eight one-day internationals.
The hearing was attended by Gibbs as well as South Africa team manager Goolam Raja and Gibbs’s teammates Mark Boucher, Paul Harris and Ashwell Prince, all of whom were present to make the case for mitigating circumstances being considered.
Also at the hearing were Pakistan team manager Talit Ali, assistant manager Asad Mustafa and captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, one of the batsmen at the crease at the time the remarks were made.
Video evidence was used during the course of the hearing.
Gibbs will also appear before a Cricket South Africa (CSA) disciplinary hearing at the CSA offices in Johannesburg at 8.30am on Tuesday morning.
This hearing will be conducted by retired judge Mervyn King, and CSA will release a statement after the hearing.
Proteas captain Graeme Smith said there was a lot of anger in the South African camp about the racial abuse they had been subjected to.
”We don’t condone what was said, but we can understand why it happened,” said Smith. ”I think security needs to be looked at as regards the Pakistan supporters. The guys came in for a lot of abuse from them, and they were quite emotional about it.”
It was revealed on Sunday that two Pakistan supporters had been asked to leave the stadium after South Africa had complained to stadium security that spin bowler Paul Harris had been abused by them while fielding on the boundary.
Smith also revealed that Proteas strike bowler Makhaya Ntini had been struck on the head with a Pakistan flag as he made his way up the stairs to the change room.
”CSA has investigated the matter and we have heard the remarks made by Herschelle Gibbs in response to verbal abuse directed by a number of Pakistan supporters at Paul Harris while he was fielding on the boundary,” said CSA chief executive Gerald Majola.
”Herschelle says these remarks were only for the ears of his teammates in his proximity, and were directed in general terms at that section of the crowd that had verbally abused Paul Harris. He has apologised for any offence he may have caused.
”However, CSA regards this whole matter in a most serious light and Herschelle will appear before CSA’s disciplinary commissioner at the earliest opportunity,” continued Majola.
”CSA would like to commend the stadium authorities for evicting a number of unruly spectators, including those Pakistan supporters who abused Paul Harris.
”This action was taken in terms of the regulations flowing from the IC’s anti-racism policy.
”CSA will continue to enforce these regulations rigidly, and we make a special plea to spectators to support their teams in the right spirit of the game,” concluded Majola. — Sapa