Zimbabwe hearing adjourns for the day after panel rules on player submission

The following is a media release issued by the International Cricket Council

The ICC hearing into allegations of racism in Zimbabwe cricket has been adjourned for the day after the panel investigating the allegations ruled that three members of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union who had allegations levelled against them should not be allowed into the proceedings during the recording of certain evidence.

India's Solicitor General, Goolam Vahanvati, and South African High Court Judge, Steve Majiedt made the ruling after hearing submissions from the players to have the officials excluded from parts of the hearing.

"There is before this panel a rather unusual and unprecedented application made on behalf of the players," said the panel in its ruling.

"We are at the stage when the evidence of the players is about to start. The players apply that whilst their evidence is being recorded, three members of the ZCU Board should not remain present in the room. They may remain in the Hotel, they say, whilst the evidence is being recorded and may rejoin the proceedings after the players evidence is concluded, but they insist that during the time their evidence is being recorded, these three persons should not remain present.

"They base this application on the apprehension that they would feel intimidated by these persons and that they would feel threatened by the presence of these persons.

"The ZCU strenuously opposes this application. They submit that the fears are entirely unjustified. The allegations are known and have been made earlier. They feel that the exclusion of such persons would prejudice the handling of their case and would be contrary to natural justice.

"We have given anxious consideration to this application. Prima facie, we are of the opinion that the apprehensions expressed by the players do not seem to be justified. It cannot be forgotten that the players themselves concede that what the players will say has already been said substantially before.

"Besides, all the persons concerned, both the players and the ZCU have had a long association together and have interacted closely. In this view of the matter, we would have been inclined not to allow this application, but we find ourselves in a difficult situation.

"We asked Mr Venturas to indicate what his clients would do if the application were not allowed. He indicated that on the basis of the available instructions from his clients, he could not make any commitment. We have been shown an article published today which quotes the players as stating that they will withdraw from this enquiry if a person is allowed to sit in the hearings.

"In the circumstances, we are left with no choice but to request the three persons not to be present in the room while the player's evidence is being recorded.

"We do so making it clear that this request is made only with a view to ensuring that the investigation proceeds further and does not in any way amount to our acceptance of the correctness of the allegations made and of the apprehensions expressed."

After handing down the ruling, the panel adjourned the hearing for the day to allow both parties to consider the decision before resuming the proceedings tomorrow morning.