KARACHI, 8 September 2006 — Pakistan captain Inzamam ul-Haq’s disciplinary hearing over last month’s ball tampering row at the Oval will be held in London on Sept. 27 and 28, the International Cricket Council said yesterday.
“The code of conduct hearing to be conducted by Ranjan Madugalle will be held in London on the 27th and 28th of this month,” ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed told a news conference.
The ICC have charged Inzamam with ball tampering and bringing the game into disrepute after his team forfeited the final Test against England.
The Pakistan Cricket Board said it would use the appeal process to allow Inzamam to play in next month’s Champions Trophy if their captain were found guilty of ball-tampering charges.
Pakistan have selected Inzamam to lead the team at the Champions Trophy in India from Oct. 7 but face the prospect of losing him for a maximum of eight one-dayers or four Tests if found guilty by the ICC.
Inzamam has also been charged with bringing the game into disrepute after his team did not resume play after tea on the fourth day at the Oval following a decision by umpires to penalize Pakistan five runs for ball tampering.
“We are assuming Inzamam will be found not guilty,” PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan told Reuters on Thursday in a telephone interview.
“(But) if Inzamam is suspended ... then making an appeal is our first option because during the period of appeal any ban is suspended and he can play in the Champions Trophy.
“If we go to appeal his ban would be suspended until the appeal is heard.” ICC regulations bar teams from replacing a disciplined player for the tournament.
Shaharyar said Pakistan could afford to lose Inzamam for a home series against West Indies after the Champions Trophy but not for next month’s tournament.
Shaharyar also said Pakistan would be sending a response to Speed’s statement warning Pakistan cricket to refrain from comments that could affect the hearing.
“It is true some of the comments made on the ball-tampering issue were not appropriate,” he said. “They should not have been made. But they came in the heat of the moment and we feel statements have also come from other sides.”
Innovative India Gear Up for Malaysia Challenge
In Bangalore, Indian players have done commando-style training in preparation for the new season, which starts with a one-day tri-series against Australia and West Indies in Malaysia today.
Indian players took a deserved break after claiming a rare Test series victory in the Caribbean in July and have now adopted innovative methods to prepare for a busy schedule that will culminate in the World Cup in March and April.
The team regrouped last week after their commando training in early August. Coach Greg Chappell, steering the players away from the routine of net practice, then got them to hit a golf ball with a stump to sharpen timing and do exercises to enhance concentration.
“It is just a chance to give people different experiences,” captain Rahul Dravid told reporters yesterday.
“If you keep following the same routine, sometimes people can become a bit stale and bored,” he said. “It is a different way of doing something which provides the same sort of benefit.”
Dravid was confident that India would shine in the Sept. 12-24 series in Kuala Lumpur.
“It is going to be a very challenging series,” he said. “Australia is obviously the best team in the world. We haven’t done well against West Indies and it is a good chance for us to correct that.” “We will play some good tough cricket.”
Dravid was happy the commando training stint came before Australia’s own boot camp, held late last month to toughen players for the upcoming Ashes series.
“I’m just glad we did it before Australia because if they had done it before us (critics) would have said we were copying Australia,” he said.
India will play two practice games in Chennai before leaving for Malaysia.
