Evil Indian ploy to win series 1-0

Name the banned Gautam Gambhir in the playing XI for Nagpur. Would Chris Broad, the match referee, rule that the game was conceded to Australia? He could do this under Law 21.3 of the test match playing conditions, since India were not supposed to pick Gambhir, and the BCCI insisted on picking him. If he did that, the BCCI could say that it objected to him being a match referee, in which case, the status of the game would not be a test match. Recall what happened in November 2001 when the BCCI and the UCBSA rejected Mike Denness' role as match referee.

Under such circumstances, India would win the series 1-0. If Broad himself decided that since the BCCI was hell-bent on picking Gambhir, and he ruled that the game was not a test match, India would still be the winner.

In the ICC Code of conduct for players & officials, I find only one reference (K-5, page 22) to the player's home board needing to ensure that the player is not selected. But that is in the context of a player not paying the financial penalty imposed.

If any Player or Team Official fails to pay any fine imposed upon him within the prescribed period that Player’s or Team Official’s Home Board shall ensure that the relevant Player shall not be selected for any Test Match, ODI Match or Tour Matches until the fine is paid and that any Team Official shall not be entitled to undertake any of their duties in so far as the same relates to any Test Match, ODI Match or Tour Matches.

Remember that Justice Sachs' decision is final and binding as per the appeals procedure (Clause H-11-k). What recourse does the ICC, or indeed the opposing team, have if the BCCI decided that since it didn't agree with the decision, Gambhir was going to play?

If someone can go through the document and point out an section of the code specifying that it is the home board's responsibility to not pick a player who has been banned (although you could question that it is such an obvious thing to assume!), and that the game would be considered as a forfeit, that'd be great!

Labels: aus v ind 2008, ban, bcci, gambhir, icc, india, match referee