March 24, 2008	Monday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 15, 1429

NEW DELHI, March 23: Sledging is set to be banned by cricket’s governing body ICC which has been prodded by Indian cricket board to take tough action to curb unsporting behaviour on the field.

In backdrop of acrimonious India-Australia series, BCCI is pressing for tougher laws to deal with sledging. The matter is before ICC. BCCI president Sharad Pawar says he raised issue in ICC’s Executive Board meeting in Dubai and pursue further when it meets for its Annual General Meeting in June.

“The process is on to get a ban on sledging and it would be discussed again in June meeting.”

Since war of words between Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh in acrimonious Sydney Test snowballed into a major crisis threatening to polarise cricket world, India has been seeking a ban on sledging.

Pawar said Indian players, especially bunch of volatile youngsters, were asked to learn from seniors and mind their on-field behaviour.—Agencies