The ICC warns players they will be suspended for excessive sledging
Tuesday 10 February 2015 15:34, UK
The ICC has warned players that they will be suspended from matches during the World Cup if they're found guilty of more than one offence of excessive sledging.
ICC chief executive Dave Richardson has promised a crackdown after a number of players were involved in rows in recent months.
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The 2015 Cricket World Cup starts on Friday, when co-hosts New Zealand play Sri Lanka in their opening Pool A fixture.
“The crackdown has already started,” Richardson said. “I think the teams are going to be told that the umpires intend to remain firm.
“The penalties handed out by the match referees will perhaps be a little bit more serious or higher than before, but that hopefully everyone will be treated equally and fairly.
“I think we are talking about in most cases heat of the moment exchanges, circumstances differ from time to time.
"For a first offence you will likely end up with a fine, which I think no player likes handing back most of his match fee, but certainly a repeat offence would be punished with a suspension.”
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