INDIA VS AUSTRALIA, 2017

BCCI, CA resolve to put focus back on cricket

by Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on

Steve Smith and Virat Kohli will meet before the Ranchi Test and commit to uphold the spirit of the game. © Getty

In a concerted effort to quell the brouhaha around the DRS controversy of the Bengaluru Test, officials of the BCCI and Cricket Australia got together on Thursday (March 9) and resolved to turn the focus back on cricket ahead of the much-anticipated Test matches in Ranchi and Dharamsala.

The immediate consequence of the coming together of James Sutherland (CA Chief) and Rahul Johri (BCCI CEO) is that the Indian cricket board will withdraw the official complaint - filed on Thursday afternoon - with the ICC against Steve Smith and Peter Handscomb's on-field actions in Bengaluru, which the board believed to have been in breach of the Spirit of Cricket.

The two captains - Smith and Virat Kohli - will now meet prior to the Ranchi Test and commit to lead their teams by example and play the rest of the series, in the right spirit.

"A series between India and Australia is bound to generate considerable excitement for fans in both the countries. On the field, the two teams are fierce competitors who represent their countries with pride. As we have seen this week in Bangalore, with so much at stake, tensions can bubble over," Sutherland was quoted as saying in a joint press release issued by both the boards.

"We are half way through what has already been a riveting series - and there is still much to look forward to. In discussing the relevant issues in depth, we have agreed that it is in the best interests of the game to put these differences aside and clear the way for the focus to be on the cricket, and the remaining matches of the series."

Johri added that it was imperative to ensure that the remainder of the series, currently locked tantalisingly at 1-1, was not compromised as a consequence of the emotions boiling over a single incident.

"India has always cherished a contest with Australia and over the years, the performances of both, the teams and the players, are testimony to the level of competitiveness that exists between these two teams. While having responded officially to one such incident which happened in the last Test, together, we believe that the focus of the teams and the joy they provide to the fans, should not be diluted."

The fracas following Smith's glance towards the Australian dressing room seeking an opinion on a DRS referral reached fever pitch after India's 75-run win in Bengaluru. Kohli lambasted his Australian counterpart in an explosive press conference - refusing to buy Smith's 'brain fade' explanation and insinuating that the Australians had transgressed the DRS rule on at least three instances.

The controversy spilled over further with the cricket boards of both Australia and India issuing individual media releases in support of their respective captains. Sutherland termed Kohli's allegations "outrageous" before BCCI shot back, stating that it stood steadfastly firm in defence of its captain's comments.

Even as the ICC withheld itself from handing out sanctions, BCCI had requested the chief governing body of the sport to take into cognizance the fact that Smith had admitted to his brain fade. The Australian captain, in turn, had been nudged into seeking dressing room consultation by his then batting partner, Handscomb.

The 25-year-old Victorian later attributed his misdemeanour to ignorance of rules but that did little to stop BCCI from lodging an official Level 2 charge against both Australian cricketers - one which will now be withdrawn after the ICC impressed upon the BCCI that such a charge would be near impossible to prove and instead facilitated the coming together of two boards for the joint statement. This release is likely to close the lid on the protracted, yet rapidly developed saga which had threatened to supersede the cricket.

© Cricbuzz

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