Gibbs appeals ban

Herschelle Gibbs has today lodged an appeal against his two match ban from the ICC. Gibbs was banned after making abusive comments regarding disruptive Pakistani members of the crowd.

Gibbs was set to face a separate tribunal, arranged by Cricket South Africa, but that has been postponed until after the appeal process has been completed, said Judge Mervyn King, the man appointed by CSA to adjudicate the tribunal.

“As the ICC findings and suspension have a bearing on CSA’s disciplinary matter, I have postponed the hearing until after Herschelle Gibbs’ appeal proceedings have been completed by the ICC,” he said.

Gibbs was charged by the ICC under Level 3.3 of the Code of Conduct which forbids using “…any language or gestures that offends, insults, humiliates, intimidates, threatens, disparages or vilifies another person on the basis of that person’s race, religion, colour, descent or national or ethic origin.”

Gibbs has lodged the appeal with the assistance of the South African Cricketers Association.

“We lodged the formal notice and grounds of appeal with the ICC this afternoon,” said Tony Irish, head of SACA

“It is not appropriate for us to deal publicly at this stage with the merits of the appeal before the ICC. However I can confirm that we are now awaiting the written statement from the match referee and the appointment of an Appeals Commissioner as provided for in the ICC Code of Conduct.”

“We expect that the appeal will be held within the next 10 days.”