ICC outlines process for reinstating banned player

In response to recent media reports, the ICC today outlined the process involved in reinstating a player banned for a corruption offence.

The process would begin with the banned player writing to the ICC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) making a formal request to be reinstated.

The ICC CEO would consider the request and has the absolute discretion to reinstate the player if he was satisfied it was appropriate to do so.

However, if he was not satisfied he should exercise his discretion he would request the ICC Code of Conduct Commissioner, the Hon. Michael Beloff QC, to constitute an Official Enquiry.

The Enquiry would usually involve the ICC Code of Conduct Chairman and two other members of the Code of Conduct Commission, which has representatives drawn from the ten ICC Full Members and six leading Associate Members.

The process of conducting the Official Enquiry would be at the discretion of its Chairman and if a hearing was constituted the banned player would get the opportunity to be present at or listen to all of the evidence and to question any witnesses, in accordance with the Principles of Natural Justice

The Enquiry would be in a position to report to the ICC's Executive Board within three months of the date it was established.

The Executive Board would then consider the matter and make a decision on whether or not the banned player should be reinstated. The Executive Board's decision would be final and binding with no right of appeal.

The terms of reference for the List of Approved Players, agreed to at the ICC Annual Conference in July 2004, states: "All (ICC) Members have agreed to submit to the jurisdiction of, and co-operate with, the ICC in the establishment and maintenance of an Approved List.

"All Members agree that no International Player shall be eligible to play Representative Cricket unless they are on the Approved List."

By decision of the Executive Board made at its meeting on 10 February 2001 and communicated to Members by notice dated 19 February 2001, the penalty of a ban for life shall mean a ban for a minimum period of 20 years and the use of the expression "ban for life" in the regulations on penalties for match fixing, betting, gambling etc. shall be read and construed accordingly.

By decision of the Executive Board made at its meeting on 26 June 2002 any Player, Administrator, Team Official, Employee, Umpire or Referee found guilty of offences under the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Team Officials Code Item C4 and banned from International Cricket for any period should also be banned by the relevant Board for that period from all domestic first-class and one-day cricket.

The ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Officials can be downloaded here: