If world cricket's governing body wanted to back up its promise to clamp down on bad behaviour, it has found an ideal proving ground in South Africa's tour of Pakistan.
 Shoaib is the latest to be punished by the ICC's new tough line |
Five players have been disciplined during a bad-tempered set of one-day internationals and the first of two Tests in Pakistan. And, after being handed a three-match ban Shoaib Akhtar looks set to be the third player to be banned from matches after Andrew Hall and Graeme Smith.
Normally mild-mannered match referee Clive Lloyd was out-spoken in his criticism of both sides.
"Cricket is a noble game based on honesty, integrity and fair play and if the players cannot comprehend this they should not be playing the game," he said.
The words echo those of his counterpart Hanumant Singh, who presided over England's ill-tempered tour of Sri Lanka in 2001.
But the most severe punishment in that series, marked by over-appealing and on-field arguing, was the suspended ban handed to Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya.
England's Michael Atherton and Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara escaped with a "final warning" after they were involved in a heated confrontation on the field.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has been deluged in recent times by criticism that the spirit of cricket is being ruined by gamesmanship and sledging.
Events came to a head in May, when Australia bowler Glenn McGrath's nose-to-nose confrontation with West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan was broadcast worldwide. Tough-talking ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed took immediate action, enlisting the support of all the Test-playing nations before implementing a more stringent code.
And these were no empty threats as members of the South Africa and Pakistan teams have found to their cost.
However, support for the changes has been sporadic.
Perhaps surprisingly given their reputation for verbal toughness, Australia have made the highest profile commitment the new code, launching their own spirit of cricket programme.
Members of the national team were asked to define the spirit of the game and help formulate a set of rules to abide by.
 Sangakkara and Atherton escaped with a final warning two years ago |
However, South African cricket boss Gerald Majola accused the ICC of double-standards when Hall was handed his ban. And such accusations were common - until recently at least - in the subcontinent.
Protestors took to the streets with the support of the national cricket board when match referee Mike Denness handed out fines and bans to six Indian players two years ago.
But Speed and new ICC president, Pakistani Ehsan Mani, have built the council's increasing power on consensus, and the code of conduct is no departure.
"The Code was strengthened in June with the agreement of all the Test-playing nations to help preserve the unique spirit of the game," said Speed.
"The teams and players are aware of their obligations and need to ensure they meet them."
And, if they were in any doubt before about the seriousness of the ICC's intentions, players are no longer under any illusions.
MMIX
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