India, SA defy ICC, Test declared unofficial

In an unprecedented stand-off, the cricket boards of India and South Africa on Thursday decided to defy the International Cricket Council by striking off Mike Denness as match referee for the third Test, starting on Friday, prompting the game's governing body to derecognise the match.

If Denness is replaced, the match between the two countries at Johannesburg will not be recognised by the ICC as an official Test, the ICC said in a statement from its London headquarters, minutes after the two cricket boards announced that former South Africa Test player Denis Lindsay would replace Denness.

The Johannesburg match will not be officiated by an ICC referee or umpire, and its result or statistics would not be included in Test match records, ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said.

However, BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya insists the match is official. He said according to the rules, the match referee is appointed in consultation with the respective boards, and in this case both the BCCI and UCBSA agreed to replace Dennes with Lindsay.

The ICC said the defiance by India and South Africa is unprecedented and "undoubtedly there would be further developments in this matter".

The ICC media manager Mark Harrison admitted that the ICC was not "really prepared" for this situation. Therefore, he said, he does not wish to elaborate anything beyond the statement issued by the ICC.

The ICC action marked the culmination of a series of dramatic events that are likely to have severe repercussions on international cricket with the cricket boards of two key countries on a collision course with the governing body.

Earlier in the day, taking a tough stance, the BCCI informed the South African authorities that the Indian team would not play in the match if Denness, who awarded harsh penalties to six Indian players, continued as match-referee.

Acting under the Indian threat, the South African board asked Denness to stand down but he refused saying that he was "properly appointed" by the ICC.

South African Board Chief Executive Gerald Majola spoke to Speed in London to inform him that the South African board would not allow Denness access to the match-referee's position at the ground for the Test match.

A BCCI statement said that both the Indian and South African boards had taken a common stand not to have Denness as the referee in the third Test.

BCCI agreed with the United Cricket Board of South Africa's proposal to replace Denness with Lindsay in view of the harsh decisions taken by Denness with which Indian players were feeling "uncomfortable".

However, the BCCI said it would no longer insist on its demand to keep in abeyance punishments handed out by Denness to six Indian cricketers including skipper Sourav Ganguly and master batsman Sachin Tendulkar, even though they were "inconsistent".

Related Reports:
Dalmiya rubbishes ICC's threat
South African govt attacks ICC
SA, India dish out royal snub to ICC
Dungarpur defends Denness' decision

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