The International Cricket Council (ICC) is unlikely to take any action on the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) complaint regarding alleged unruly crowd behavior during the World Cup game against India in Ahmedabad.
PCB lodged a formal protest with ICC during the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 on Tuesday, highlighting key issues related to visas for Pakistani journalists and inappropriate conduct during the India vs Pakistan match.
According to a report by PTI, ICC has acknowledged the complaint and is in the process of assessing its nature and determining the course of action it may pursue. But as per an ex BCCI and ICC official, the international cricketing body might not entertain the complaint. The reason behind this is the limited scope of the anti-discrimination code, which primarily covers individual actions and not group conduct.
"The ICC takes every complaint very seriously but code is about individuals. I don't know what exactly is PCB looking at but it will be very difficult to take any tangible action," PTI quoted an ex BCCI and ICC official as saying.
With over one lakh fans in attendance at the Narendra Modi Stadium, only three Pakistani-American supporters were present in the stands to back their team. The controversy sparked when some sections of the crowd directed religious chants at Mohammed Rizwan as he walked back to the pavilion after being dismissed. The incident led the PCB to register a complaint with the ICC.
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Pakistan coach, Mickey Arthur, earlier admitted that the players felt overwhelmed by the boisterous crowd during their seven-wicket loss to India.
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While the PCB raised concerns about "inappropriate behavior," it is important to consider the relative scale of the issue. The official noted that the ICC may identify individuals if there are specific charges of racism, but addressing a slogan chanted by thousands of people becomes a complex task.
The official further pointed out that no players were harmed by any objects thrown from the gallery, and a partisan crowd is a common occurrence in elite sports, creating pressure and intensity.
"The ICC may identify individuals if there are charges of racism but if thousands of people are shouting a slogan, what can you do? No player was injured by any 'missile' hurled from the gallery? A partisan crowd is expected. That's pressure of elite sport," the source said.
As part of standard protocol, the ICC has consistently conveyed its stance against racism and its zero tolerance policy through billboards during its events.