BCCI files official complaint with ICC against Steve Smith and Peter Handscomb

What’s the story?

The BCCI has lodged an official complaint with the ICC against Australian captain Steve Smith and Peter Handscomb following the DRS fiasco in the Bengaluru Test.

The complaint comes a day after the ICC had posted a statement clarifying that no charges had been laid on players from either team after the end of the second Test. In relation to the incident involving Steve Smith and Virat Kohli, ICC said that emotions were running high in the Test and both teams should focus their energies on the next match.

In case you didn’t know...

On the fourth day of the Bengaluru Test, Steve Smith was adjudged LBW by the on-field umpires to an Umesh Yadav delivery that kept low, but tried to take help from the dressing room while contemplating a referral, something that is against the rules, and was immediately pointed out and reported by Kohli to the umpires. The Indian captain later took potshots at Smith in the post-match conference, claiming Smith had crossed the line no one should on the cricketing field.

The heart of the matter

Rahul Johri, CEO of the BCCI, has reportedly filed a complaint on behalf of the governing body two days after the end of the Test, which falls under the ICC’s guidelines. The officially lodged complaint pertains to a Level 2 breach, for an attempt to act against the Spirit of the Game.

Cricket Australia has the option of lodging an official complaint to the ICC as well. Recently, Cricket Australia’s CEO James Sutherland had, in an official statement, hit back at Virat Kohli’s accusations, claiming them to be ‘outrageous’. He had also said that Cricket Australia was right behind the team, refusing to acknowledge any claims that unfair methods were used by Steve Smith.

What’s next?

The action now moves on to Ranchi for the third Test, with both teams, now on level terms, inching to get the better of each other. The Test begins on the 16^th of March, which means that an official statement will be delivered by the ICC before the teams head out for the next match.

Sportskeeda’s take

Although the ICC has stated that it won’t be taking any action against either Virat Kohli or Steve Smith, the official complaint will force them to review the evidence once again and prepare a report. BCCI is exercising its right to lodge a complaint within 48 hours of the end of the Test, which is also another way to sustain pressure on the hosts