The one match suspension slapped by Cammie Smith on Sourav Ganguly is a step in the right direction. That is the inescapable conclusion to be drawn from the verdict.

For far too long have referees and umpires been very lenient with players and this in turn has led to the primma donnas getting away with loutish behaviour. Player misbehaviour is nothing new but their tantrums are becoming intolerable with each passing year and it is time a strict view was taken on this issue to bring players in line and to uphold the best traditions of the game. And obviously following the spirit of the recent letter written by the new ICC chief executive officer Malcolm Speed, Smith pulled up the Indian captain for showing dissent at the umpire's decision after he was given out leg before in the Coca-Cola Cup tri-series game against New Zealand on Thursday.

Earlier this month, Speed made it clear that he was going to give top priority in dealing with this `cancer' that threatens to ruin the image of the sport as drastically as the match fixing scandal. If cricket has ceased to be a gentleman's sport, it is because of the growing misbehaviour of the players. Shortly after he took up his new position in London, Speed acted well in writing personally to each of the ten Test match cricket captains, asking for their support in upholding the highest standards of conduct on the field of play.

Ironically the first to be hauled up has been one of these captains. In his letter, Speed wrote: "There have been a number of incidents in recent matches that have fallen below an acceptable standard. It is time to ensure that all of us charged with protecting the reputation of our great game meet the high standards expected. I appreciate that the international game is fiercely competitive and played for increasingly high stakes, but ask that you take all steps available to ensure that your team honours the Spirit of the Game. It is a very important duty that is entrusted to you and one which places a great responsibility on all international captains."

In his letter to match referees, Speed suggested that serious cases of indiscipline are punished with suspensions, rather than lesser penalties. "As a matter of general principle, I would suggest that in serious cases, suspensions are imposed rather than suspended sentences, reprimands or fines. I can assure you that you will have my full support in dealing with matters of this kind." Match referees have also been asked to encourage umpires to lay formal charges under the Code of Conduct.

It is thus clear that Ganguly has been pulled up in keeping with the new instructions. And about time too. Under the old scheme of things, Ganguly might have got away with a warning or a suspended sentence or a fine. Speed has hit the nail on the head by advocating immediate suspensions. Thus far, the mild punishments meted out to the players did not seem to have any impact. It now remains to be seen whether the stricter punishments would improve matters. But at last a start has been made in the right direction and I would like to think that the new measures would go a long way in curbing players' misbehaving. Now that the ICC chief has made his stand clear, it only remains for the match referees to be consistent in their ruling.

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