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"Behaviour unbecoming..." says match referee

Here follows the text of the official statement put out by International Cricket Council match referee Jackie Hendricks after his investigations into the case of Inzamam ul Haq:

"At a hearing held this afternoon, September 14, 1997, at the conclusion of the cricket match held in Toronto between India and Pakistan, Inzamam ul Haq of Pakistan was charged under Item 2 of the ICC code of conduct, that is conduct unbecoming of an international cricket player, and for bringing the game into disrepute.

"He was found to have breached this item of the code and consequently, has been suspended for the next two one day international matches, with a suspended sentence for a further match which will be suspended till December 31, 1997."

Tournament organisers International Management Group's vice president, Andrew Wildblood, meanwhile announced that for the duration of the tournament, megaphones will not be permitted onto the ground. This follows an official complaint from Pakistan skipper Ramiz Raja and coach Haroon Rashid that Inzamam had, for the last two days, been the target for constant heckling. "The language used was filthy, and not worthy of being repeated by me," Rashid is reported to have told the organisers.

Ramiz indicated that he had specifically asked the organisers for a ban on megaphones for the duration of the Sahara Cup.

When it was pointed out that the ICC code clearly forbids physical intimidation or force against a player, umpire or spectator and that therefore, Inzamam was wrong to take matters into his own hands, Ramiz said, "While I do not condone Inzamam's actions, human feelings predominate on occasions and the present instance is one of them."

Ramiz indicated that Hasan Raza would replace Inzamam for the duration of the suspension.