Date-stamped : 24 Sep97 - 06:07
Huckle fined, given suspended one-match ban

By Jahoor Omar


Zimbabwe debutant Adam Huckle was fined 30 per cent of his match
fee - [Zim]$1905 - and given a suspended one-match ban for,
among other things, attempting to intimidate the umpire by
charging towards him during the drawn first test against New
Zealand which finished at Harare Sports Club on Monday.

In addition, Zimbabwe captain, Alistair Campbell, was cautioned
and warned on his future conduct and the entire Zimbabwe team
accused of abusing an outgoing batsman, provoking confrontation
and bringing the game into disrepute.

The outgoing batsamn in question, New Zealand wicketkeeper Adam
Parore, had similar charges to that of the Zimbabwe team
dismissed.

At the end of a disciplinary hearing on Monday evening,
International Cricket Council referee Sidath Wettimuny of Sri
Lanka fined leg-spinner Huckle 30 per cent of his match fee of
[Zim]$6350 in addition to imposing a one-match ban, suspended
for six months on condition he was not found guilty of any
breaches of the ICC Code of Conduct during that period.

A press statement issued yesterday by the Zimbabwe Cricket Union
chief executive, Don Arnott, said Huckle violated Code 4 of the
ICC Code of Conduct for attempting to intimidate the umpire by
charging towards him in the latter stages of the match when
Zimbabwe were trying to bowl out New Zealand's last few batsmen
to win the match.

He was also found guilty of breaching Codes 2 and 5. Code 2
stipulates that players and team officials must mot intimidate,
assault or attempt to indimidate an umpire, another player or a
spectator. Code 5 says players and team officials must not use
crude or offensive language nor make offensive gestures.

In Huckle's case, according to Wettimuny, the player gestured to
the pavilion after the batsman was given out.

In an incident-packed match, harsh words seemed to have been
exchanged by Zimbabwean fielders and Parore following his
dismissal mid-way into the second session on the fifth and final
day.

In the last hour of the match the Zimbabwean fielders were more
than a little enthusiastic in their appeals as frustration crept
in.

The two umpires were Zimbabwe's Ian Robinson and B.C. Cooray of
Sri Lanka.

Set 403 to win, New Zealand finished on 304-8 in the second
innings to complete an unlikely draw.

Although Huckle is the first Zimbabwean to be fined for
intimidating an umpire the likes of Dave Houghton, Heath Streak
(both for giving unauthorised press statements) and Guy Whittall
(dissent) have also had their match fees deducted for Code of
Conduct breaches.

Source: The Herald, 24 September 1997

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