London: The ICC-appointed Judicial Commissioner to investigate the altercation between James Anderson and Ravindra Jadeja today fixed August 1 as the date for conducting a detailed hearing within 48 hours of which he would announce his decision on the incident.
“At the end of the hearing on 1 August, the Judicial Commissioner, as per article 5.2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, will have 48 hours to announce his decision in writing with reasons,” the ICC said in a statement after a preliminary hearing today.
“His Honour Gordon Lewis AM, the Judicial Commissioner will hold the hearing of England fast bowler James Anderson via video-conference on Friday 1 August at 0900 (BST),” he added.
The Judicial Commissioner announced this during the preliminary hearing, which was held this morning and attended by representatives of Anderson and the ECB and their legal counsel, the ICC's Ethics and Regulatory Lawyer, and representatives of the BCCI and their legal counsel.
With this, decks have been cleared for Anderson's participation in the third Test starting on July 27 but he might miss the fourth and fifth match starting August 7 if the investigation finds him guilty of pushing and abusing Jadeja as alleged by the Indians.
Charged with a level 3 offence under the ICC Code of Conduct, Anderson faces a ban of upto two Tests and eight ODIs if found guilty.
During the preliminary hearing, Lewis also explained that the next hearing will be conducted in accordance with Article 5.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel.
“If required, he (Lewis) will also decide on the sanctions to be imposed, date from when the suspension(s) will be enforced and the process for right of appeal as per Article 8,” the ICC stated.
“Under article 7.6.5 of the Code, if the Judicial Commissioner finds the Player or Player Support Personnel not guilty of the offence with which he has been charged, then it remains open to him, at his discretion, to find the player or Player Support Personnel guilty of an offence of a lower level than that with which he has been charged.”
Meanwhile, the ICC has confirmed that following discussions and agreement between the relevant parties and as per the Code, match referee David Boon will hold the hearing of Ravindra Jadeja.
“Details of this hearing are being worked out and will be announced in due course,” the ICC said.
Anderson and Jadeja were charged under Level 3 and 2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel by India team manager Sunil Dev and England team manager Phil Neale respectively following an alleged altercation that took place during lunch break on the second day of the first Test at Trent Bridge on July 10.
All Level 3 breaches carry a penalty of between four and eight Suspension Points while Level 2 offences carry a fine of between 50-100 per cent of applicable Match Fee and/or up to two Suspension Points.
Two suspension points equates to a ban of one Test, or two ODIs, depending on which type of match is scheduled next for the suspended player.
