BCCI backs Kohli, calls for ICC action against Smith

The Indian cricket board threw its weight behind skipper Virat Kohli on Wednesday and urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to take action against Australia skipper Steve Smith for seeking help from the dressing room on a decision review against his dismissal on the fourth day of the second Test.

After Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland dubbed Kohli’s ‘they crossed the line’ charges against Smith as ‘outrageous’, the BCCI issued a statement backing the India skipper’s comments.

The BCCI said, “Mr Virat Kohli is a mature and seasoned cricketer and his conduct on the field has been exemplary. Mr Kohli’s action was supported by ICC Elite Panel Umpire Mr Nigel Llong, who rushed in to dissuade Mr Steve Smith from taking recourse to inappropriate assistance.

“BCCI has requested the ICC to take cognisance of the fact that the Australian skipper Mr Steve Smith in his press conference (after the Test) admitted to a ‘brain fade’ at that moment.”

Earlier, the Indian team management lodged a complaint with the ICC match referee Chris Broad over Smith’s action on the field.

“A complaint has been sent to the match referee after the game. The team management has conveyed its views on the issue to the CoA (Committee of Administrators),” an official told HT on condition of anonymity.

The row recalled the stand-off between the two boards during the ‘Monkeygate’ scandal involving Harbhajan Singh on the 2007-8 tour of Australia, but the BCCI, now run by a Committee of Administrators (CoA) appointed by the Supreme Court, now seemed to be trying to put a lid on the row. “BCCI sincerely hopes that the rest of the matches are played in the true spirit of cricket,” it said.

BCCI has requested the ICC to take cognisance that Smith in his press conference admitted to a ‘brain fade’.