Embattled South African cricketer Herschelle Gibbs voiced disappointment on Thursday at missing the next Test with Pakistan and the first two one-day-internationals because of an International Cricket Council (ICC) ban.
ICC appeals commissioner Richie Benaud imposed the ban in upholding a finding that Gibbs used abusive language in the Test match between South Africa and Pakistan at Centurion.
Gibbs was, however glad he had been given ”a proper opportunity” to explain himself.
”I feel it is important that Mr Benaud has confirmed that I am not racist. I have apologised if my remarks inadvertently caused offence, and that apology still stands.
”I regard the matter as now closed, and I will now concentrate on cricket,” Gibbs said.
While what happened was not a good thing, ”it was dealt with correctly by the match referee, and we’re happy with the ICC decision”, said Pakistan captain Inzamam Ul-Haq.
During the first Test, Gibbs was heard — over a stump microphone — referring to a section of the crowd as ”a bunch of bloody animals” after they verbally abused players.
On a live television broadcast of the match, he was then overheard remarking that ”they should all fuck off back to Pakistan”.
Match-referee Chris Broad originally banned him from playing in two Test matches after finding him guilty of using ”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”.
While Benaud upheld the finding, he changed the penalty. He did not believe there was any evidence that Gibbs’ comments were in any way racially motivated.
”I certainly do not consider Herschelle to be a racist and I take great exception to the suggestion …,” he said.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced on Friday that Gibbs would no longer have to face a separate South African disciplinary hearing.
”We have accepted Mr Benaud’s findings in rejecting Herschelle’s appeal,” said its chief executive Gerald Majola.
”We particularly welcome the fact that Mr Benaud has emphatically cleared Herschelle of any allegations of racism.”
Majola said the CSA disciplinary inquiry had been set before the ICC hearings, but postponed until their finalisation.
”Now that the ICC has completed its process, we have decided that there is no point in charging Herschelle twice in this matter.”
The disciplinary commissioner, Judge Mervyn King, said a ban from playing was the ultimate punishment for a professional cricketer.
”To ban him from further games would be a double punishment for the same contravention … I have concluded that a reprimand would have been an appropriate punishment.
”I consequently approve of the withdrawal of the charges against Mr Gibbs by CSA.”
Gibbs still had the full support of his teammates, said Proteas captain Graeme Smith.
He called for consistency around the world in dealing with on-field incidents.
”We’ve experienced things that haven’t been dealt with. Maybe we need to get on the phone with David Richardson [ICC manager of cricket] and Malcolm Speed, [ICC chief executive].” – Sapa