Hold your taunts back, ICC warns PCB

Dubai: The International Cricket Council on Monday have warned the Pakistan Cricket Board and captain Inzamam-ul-Haq for making "unnecessary and inappropriate" public comments in the wake of the Oval Test fiasco.

ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said he was disappointed by some of the comments that had appeared in the media and would not hesitate to "lay charge" if further comments were made ahead of the disciplinary hearing of the Pakistan skipper later this month.

"I have been very disappointed by some of the public comments made by members of the PCB, team management and Inzamam-ul-Haq following the Oval Test," Speed said.

Speed said such comments could be seen as prejudicial to the pending Code of Conduct hearing.

"Over the course of the last two weeks there has been a stream of unnecessary and inappropriate public comments from the PCB, much of which could be seen as prejudicial to the pending Code of Conduct hearing."

"We have in place a fair and independent process for dealing with matters that arose out of the Oval Test and all concerned parties will have an opportunity to present their evidence during the hearing later in September," he said.

Speed said the Pakistani team management had breached the ICC Code of Conduct which bars public criticism of a match-related incident or official.

"Ahead of this hearing it is wholly inappropriate for officials or players to comment on issues that will be addressed, particularly as the ICC Code of Conduct includes a specific offence of 'public criticism of, or inappropriate comment on, a match-related incident or match official.'"

Warning to take action if such comments were not stopped immediately, he said: "The acute international diplomatic and political sensitivity of this issue has persuaded me not to lay a charge to date, but despite the exceptional circumstances I will not hesitate to lay a charge, should further inappropriate public comments be made ahead of the hearing."

Speed confirmed he had raised the matter twice in the past ten days with PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan and he had also asked ICC match referee Mike Procter to do likewise with the Pakistan captain and team management.

"There will be plenty of opportunity for Pakistan to put their side of the story in the fair environment of the Code of Conduct hearing. That is the appropriate forum for its views on these matters," he added.

Details of the timing and venue of the Code of Conduct hearing will be announced in due course, the release said.