ST JOHN’S, Feb 14: Cricket’s world governing body says the immediate future of the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium will now be subject to the start of its pitch and outfield monitoring process.

Haroon Lorgat, Chief Executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC), suggested that the world body has the power to impose a sanction, following the abandonment of the second Test between the West Indies and England on Friday.

The penalty for the VRCG could range from a warning or a fine up to a suspension of international status for the venue.

“I think the ultimate measure that we can adopt is that we can take away the status of the venue as a Test match ground,” Lorgat said. “The fact that the West Indies may have foreseen something is a question that has to be put to the member board, and I think we will do what we have to do in terms of the sanction for this particular venue.”

The ICC’s pitch and outfield monitoring process was introduced three years ago to ensure that international cricket is played in conditions of a suitably high standard.

The first stage of the process is for ICC match referee Allan Hurst to submit a report to the governing body concerning the quality of the playing surface.

Once he does so then the ICC will write to the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), forwarding that report and asking for a written report of its own on the condition of the surface including any extenuating circumstances which may have existed.

Once the WICB report is submitted then the ICC’s General Manager — Cricket, David Richardson, and the ICC’s chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle will consider all the evidence, including studying video footage, before passing judgment.

“I think this is a wonderful lesson for us all,” Lorgat stated. “To the best of my understanding there is no process in place that a Test match venue is re-checked once it’s accredited.

“As far as I am concerned, we accredit venues and the match referees report on the status of that venue after every game.

“With this example however, we will have to tighten up on some of those procedures that we have in place,” he added.

A new Test match, to be staged at the Antigua Recreation Ground, begins on Sunday and Lorgat was grateful that arrangements could be put in place to stage a replacement Test, particularly with a large number of British visitors paying hefty sums to travel and to attend.—AFP