FICA Response to ICC Media Release – 28/06/13 Federation of International Cricketers’ Association’s (FICA’s) Executive Chairman, Paul Marsh, today issued the following response to the ICC media release in relation to the ICC Cricket Committee voting issue. ” The ICC’s media release is a disappointing attempt to deflect attention from the real issue here. ” The clear facts of this matter are that FICA has evidence that boards pressured captains into changing their votes in the process of electing the players’ representative to the ICC Cricket Committee. We believe this is a clear breach of the ICC’s own Code of Ethics. We asked the ICC to follow their own processes and independently investigate this matter more than six weeks ago. They have refused to do this, and instead have tried to get FICA to accept a compromised approach that would ensure this matter isn’t independently investigated by the Ethics Officer. We have refused this approach based on principle,” said Marsh. ” Given that the ICC won’t refer this matter to the Ethics Officer, FICA is now trying to do so directly. Whilst the ICC have expressed anger and disappointment at what they perceive to be a ‘confrontational’ approach from FICA, we are simply trying to do what the ICC is obligated to do themselves.” ” If the ICC is confident that its Directors have acted in a manner that is in accordance with their own Code of Ethics, then they should have no concerns with allowing this investigation to run its course,” Marsh concluded. FICA Refers ICC Cricket Committee Captains’ Vote to ICC Ethics Officer – 27/06/13 Federation of International Cricketers’ Association’s (FICA’s) Executive Chairman, Paul Marsh, today announced that the FICA Board held a meeting in London last week at which a decision was made to refer the controversial captains’ vote for the player representatives on the ICC Cricket Committee to the ICC Ethics Officer for independent investigation. Mr Marsh said, ” FICA has tried all we can to get the ICC to refer this matter to the Ethics Officer themselves, however after more than six weeks of no action we are left with no choice but to refer the matter ourselves.” ” We have evidence of captains being pressured by their boards into changing their votes away from the incumbent player representative on the committee, Tim May, in favour of Laxman Sivaramakrishnan and we will present this to the Ethics Officer. The evidence is strong and we expect it to be acted upon.” ” It is extremely concerning and disappointing that the governing body of our sport has refused to follow its own processes for dealing with allegations of unethical behavior,” said Marsh. Clauses 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4 of the Code of Ethics provide clarity as to the ICC’s obligations in this matter: 8.2 Anyone who violates the Code of Ethics may be subject to disciplinary measures. The Ethics Officer shall review all alleged violations of the Code of Ethics. If appropriate, the Ethics Officer will conduct an investigation, hold a hearing and also recommend sanctions, (including but not limited to a recommendation to remove a Director under Article 4.11(f) of the ICC Memorandum and Articles) to the ICC Executive Board. 8.3 Each Director has the obligation not only to abide by the Code of Ethics, but also to report violations of the Code of Ethics when they become aware of them. 8.4 This policy serves as a framework to guide ethical conduct, but by no means covers every situation. If Directors are unclear about the requirements of this policy they should consult the Ethics Officer or The President. Directors have a responsibility to ask questions if they have doubts about a situation or proposed course of action. ” Sadly, this is yet another example of the poor governance practices that exist in cricket. The ICC should be taking these allegations incredibly seriously, but instead they are ignoring the processes under their own code and hoping the matter will go away,” Marsh stated. The FICA Executive Chariman also met with teams and players during the week. The lack of respect shown to FICA and the players throughout this issue, coupled with general concerns about the governance of the sport, prompted the unprecedented step of FICA and the players drafting a ‘Statement of Unity’. The below has been signed by all players from the six FICA countries (Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies) that participated in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy: ” We, the players, are privileged to represent our countries at the highest level at ICC events and in bilateral Test, ODI and T20 cricket. ‘‘We are committed to upholding the traditions of the game and maintaining the highest standards of sportsmanship and integrity. In return, we expect to enjoy the right to collective representation through Player Associations, a right enjoyed by the players of every professional team sport worldwide. We support FICA as the voice of professional cricketers everywhere, and expect it to receive due recognition and respect by the ICC and our respective boards as it plays its role in representing our interests. We further expect cricket’s administrators to ensure our great game is managed off the field to the same high standards of dignity and integrity as those to which we are committed.” A signed copy of the player ‘Statement of Unity’ has been sent to the ICC.
