KATHMANDU: The International Cricket Council (ICC) have announced a team to investigate the events surrounding the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division-V match between the hosts Nepal and the United States of America (USA) at the Tribhuvan University Stadium in Kathmandu.

According to the ICC press release, ICC Head of Legal David Becker will lead the three-member team which also includes David Richardson, ICC General Manager — Cricket, and Ravi Sawani, General Manager — Anti-Corruption and Security Unit. “The investigation will cover all aspects of the match including the calculations of net run-rate, how the match officials reacted and the nature of the security-related issues which arose during the match,” said the ICC in a release. The USA won the match, interrupted by unruly crowd behaviour, held at the TU Stadium but the subsequent net run-rate calculations meant that Nepal were promoted to Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division-IV along with the USA, just ahead of Singapore.

“Under the terms of the ICC security regulations and the disciplinary process related thereto, an independent commissioner, Advocate Ajmalul Hossain QC, has also been appointed to investigate any alleged breaches of security protocols on the part of the tournament host, the Cricket Association of Nepal,” adds the release. “The findings of the investigations will be announced in due course,” it added.

“What happened in Nepal was unacceptable and we can be thankful that nobody was hurt through the irresponsible actions of spectators. It is important to establish exactly what happened that day and I am content with how the investigation is progressing,” the ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat was quoted as saying.

“The safety and security of players, officials and spectators at all our events is our number-one priority.

I am pleased in general terms with the good progress we have made

in that area recently and, in particular, that the expert recommendations of our security task force were approved at the most recent ICC Board meeting,” Lorgat said.