New Delhi: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday suspended Cricket Canada from its membership of the ICC citing serious violations of membership obligations after a board meeting in Ahmedabad on Monday.“The ICC Board has decided to suspend Cricket Canada from membership of the ICC with immediate effect due to serious breaches of its membership obligations,” the ICC said in a statement.The move comes months later. A documentary aired in April by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation The alleged corruption program in Cricket Canada’s administration raised concerns about governance issues, including allegations of match-fixing and threats of violence involving some players and officials.Despite the suspension, the ICC said it has taken steps to ensure Canadian cricketers are not affected by administrative issues within the national body. Canadian national teams will remain eligible to participate in ICC events during the suspension period.“In making this decision, the ICC Board kept in mind the importance of protecting the interests of Canadian players and ensuring that they are not affected by governance issues affecting the national governing body. Accordingly, Canada’s national representative teams will remain eligible to participate in ICC events during the suspension.”The ICC also said that Cricket Canada would continue to receive financial support, but only through a controlled funding mechanism overseen by the ICC administration. Funds may only be used for National Team approved programs.The governing body will provide Cricket Canada with a set of conditions that must be met before membership can be reinstated. The ICC Normalization Committee along with the ICC administration will oversee the process.“The ICC will also provide Cricket Canada with a set of reinstatement conditions aimed at addressing governance and management issues identified by the Board. Progress against these conditions will be monitored by the ICC Normalization Committee, supported by ICC management, with reinstatement of membership subject to the Board being satisfied that the conditions have been fully met,” the ICC statement said.The ICC Board also approved several recommendations of the Chief Executives Committee.Among them is a trial that allows the use of the pink ball in Test matches, subject to the agreement of both teams, to reduce the amount of play lost due to poor lighting. The ICC will also work with the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) on research into lighting technology that could help match officials and venues better deal with poor lighting conditions.In another change, match officials will be allowed access to Hawkeye data when assessing and reporting suspected illegal bowling action.The board also approved updating the playing conditions. Head coaches, or their designated representatives, will now be allowed to consult with players during designated beverage breaks. A mandatory 15-minute break will be introduced in T20 Internationals, with batsmen having to be ready when play resumes after the break.
