The Indian Cricket Board has announced that they will be withdrawing the complaint filed with the International Cricket Council (ICC) against Australian captain Steve Smith and batsman Peter Handscomb for seeking dressing room help on a DRS call.
The announcement came after BCCI CEO Rahul Johri and Cricket Australia CEO of James Sutherland met at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai on Thursday.
“BCCI will withdraw the complaint filed with ICC with an expectation that the two captains will meet prior to the Ranchi Test and commit to lead their teams by example and play the rest of the series in the right spirit, demonstrating that the players from both teams are true ambassadors for their respective countries”, said BCCI and CA in the joint-statement.
BCCI had made the official complaint against the two Aussies after ICC issued a statement making it clear that no further action will be taken against either Indian skipper Virat Kohli or Smith.
India has always cherished a contest with Australia and over the years, the performances of both, the teams and the players, are testimony to the level of competitiveness that exists between these two teams. While having responded officially to one such incident which happened in the last Test, together, we believe that the focus of the teams and the joy they provide to the fans, should not be diluted and it is imperative to ensure that the rest of the series, which promises a great cricketing contest, not be compromised, and, in discussing the matters at length, agreed the importance of bringing back the focus to the game and the much anticipated next Test match in Ranchi.Rahul Johri, CEO, BCCI
The two cricket bodies have “resolved to restore focus on the ongoing series amidst the increased attention towards issues which have emanated during the course of the second Test match in Bengaluru”, added the statement.
A series between India and Australia is bound to generate considerable excitement for fans in both the countries. On the field, the two teams are fierce competitors, who represent their countries with pride. As we have witnessed this week in Bengaluru, with so much at stake, tensions can bubble over. We are half way through what has already been a riveting series – and there is still much to look forward to. In discussing the relevant issues in depth, we have agreed that it is in the best interests of the game to put these differences aside and clear the way for the focus to be on cricket, and the remaining matches of the series.James Sutherland, CEO, Cricket Australia
BCCI had emailed the documents along with video footage of the incident to the ICC, pressing Level 2 charges under the global body's Code of Conduct.
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