Herschelle Gibbs’s appeal hearing against a ban of two Test matches imposed on him for breaching the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) code of conduct was concluded via teleconference on Wednesday.
The hearing was conducted by former Australia captain Richie Benaud, who was appointed as the appeals commissioner and it is expected that Benaud will issue his decision on Thursday.
Gibbs was banned on January 15 after he was overheard on a stump microphone calling Pakistan supporters, among other things, ”a bunch of bloody animals” during the first Test between South Africa and Pakistan. He has since apologised.
The teleconference involved Gibbs, his legal representative, ICC match referee Chris Broad and a legal representative acting on his behalf. ICC in-house lawyer Urvasi Naidoo was also present on the call in an administrative capacity.
Benaud has the power to increase, decrease, amend or otherwise substitute his own decision from that made at the previous hearing, and his decision is final and binding.
Once Benaud has reached his decision he must provide it in writing to the ICC’s in-house lawyer, who will then forward it to Gibbs, Broad and ICC chief executive officer Malcolm Speed ahead of any public announcement. — Sapa