November 18 Monday 2002
'ICC to formulate rules for crowd-interrupted games'

VADODARA, India: International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee Mike Proctor says the game's governing body will formulate rules to determine outcomes of limited-overs matches disrupted by crowd disturbances.

The India v West Indies series has been marred by crowd trouble. The touring West Indies walked off after fielder Vasbert Drakes was struck with a plastic bottle during a match at Rajkot, effectively handing India its first win of the series.

"There are no written rules to govern matches stopped from running their full course by rowdy spectators, but the ICC is now looking at formulating stipulations for disrupted games," Proctor said Sunday.

"As things stand right now, it's for the match referee to make a decision keeping the ground situation in view -- the decision is entirely his once 25 overs have been completed." Objects were thrown onto the grounds from the spectator stands in the first three of seven limited-overs internationals. The was no trouble in the midst of tight security for game four at Ahmadabad, where India won to square the series at 2-2.

Proctor's decision to award the win to India at Rajkot was the first time a host country had been given the result in a crowd-interrupted match. "India was miles ahead of the West Indies with lots of overs and few runs required," Proctor said. "The decision to abandon the match was entirely mine and not under pressure from the West Indies 
team. I took the decision to prevent injuries to players."

Although, Proctor said the West Indies hadn't reacted by leaving the field. "People might not have been aware of substitute fielders Pedro Collins and Ryan Hinds being targeted by objects thrown from the stands before Drakes got hit," he said. "Collins had a foil-wrapped stone hurled at him ... another stone missed Hinds when he was on the boundary."

Proctor complimented the 55,000-strong capacity crowd at Ahmadabad's Motera Stadium during the fourth one-dayer on Friday, which he said was "an example of good sporting behavior."

"I hope the problems with crowd-trouble are now over," he said. With the ICC demanding explanations on the crowd trouble, the Indian cricket board had ordered local organizers to enforce strict security.

"The Indian board formulated a meeting of the West Indies manager Ricky Skerrit with cricket and security officials. That helped clear the situation and appraised the teams about the steps being taken," Proctor said.