BBC SPORT | Cricket | ICC considers venue ban

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is considering expanding its powers to remove international status from venues.

The revelation came after crowd trouble again marred India's one-day series with West Indies on Tuesday.

India were declared the winners of the third match at Rajkot when play was abandoned after West Indies fielder Vasbert Drakes was struck by an object thrown from the crowd.

India handed win as fans erupt

The first two matches in Jamshedpur and Nagpur were also affected by crowd trouble but play was able to continue.

The ICC is seeking a full explanation of today's unacceptable events in Rajkot

Malcolm Speed
ICC chief executive

The ICC presently does not have the power to to remove the international status of a venue.

But ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said the ruling body's Safety and Security Committee would consider it.

"We have asked this committee to consider appropriate penalties for venues which consistently fail to meet their obligations in meeting minimum standards of security," Speed said.

"This is likely to include the ultimate sanction of withdrawing international status from a ground, combined with a heavy financial penalty."

BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya
Dalmiya has called for tougher security

Speed said the ICC had liaised with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to ensure that security measures would be enhanced for the series' four remaining matches.

"We have asked for details of the ground stewarding and security plans for the next four matches.

"We will also request that BCCI officials meet with ICC match referee Mike Procter, to discuss the matter and brief them fully of plans and contingency measures."

The BCCI has asked the chief minister of the western Gujarat state, which hosts the next two fixtures, to order local police to increase security inside the venues.

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Your say: Should venues be axed?

BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya said that the board's requests had been accepted.

"In case any spectator indulges in activity that could lead to untoward incidents, he should be immediately taken into custody," Dalmiya said.

"If there is more than an isolated case in any particular stand, it should be vacated by police with the help of ground authorities."

The board also plans to install closed-circuit television cameras in the stands and has suggested that spectators be prevented from carrying in objects that could be used as missiles.


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