Thursday turned out to be as dramatic with regard to the 'cheat-gate' as the last two days of the Bengaluru Test, which saw India clawing its way back to script a famous win.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) first formally lodged a complaint against Australia captain Steve Smith and his batting partner Peter Handscomb for the former seeking directions from the dressing room over whether to use DRS during the Test. Late in the night, however, the BCCI did a turnaround on its stand after a fruitful meeting between BCCI chief executive Rahul Johri and his Cricket Australia counterpart James Sutherland here.
At the end of a prolonged meeting at the BCCI headquarters, a joint statement issued by BCCI and CA confirmed that both the parties are keen to move on from the ugly episode that marred a high-voltage Test match. “BCCI will withdraw the complaint filed with ICC with an expectation that the two captains will meet prior to the Ranchi Test and commit to lead their teams by example and play the rest of the series, in the right spirit, demonstrating that the players from both teams are true ambassadors for their respective countries,” said the statement.
“In discussing the relevant issues in depth, we have agreed that it is in the best interests of the game to put these differences aside and clear the way for the focus to be on the cricket, and the remaining matches of the series,” Suthlerand stated in the release.
'Focus of teams not to be diluted'
Johri hoped the cheat-gate won't have a bearing on the remainder of the series. “India has always cherished a contest with Australia and over the years, the performances of both, the teams and the players, are testimony to the level of competitiveness that exists between these two teams,” he said.
“While having responded officially to one such incident which happened in the last Test, together, we believe that the focus of the teams and the joy they provide to the fans, should not be diluted and it is imperative to ensure that the rest of the series, which promises a great cricketing contest, not be compromised.”
That both the sides have decided to not let the 'cheat-gate' affect the remaining two Tests in the series would also mean the bosses at the International Cricket Council headquarters in Dubai can heave a sigh of relief. After all, the ICC on Wednesday had clarified that it will not take any punitive action against any of the players involved in the match.
The ICC stand, coupled with match referee Chris Broad's comments to The Daily Telegraph in Australia, are understood to have peeved the Indian dressing room. It had resulted in the BCCI, in consultation with the Indian team, deciding to press for disciplinary action.
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