ICC Code of Conduct: Levels of Breach and Penalties in Cricket
A detailed guide to the ICC Code of Conduct — the four levels of offences, what actions fall into each category, and the penalties that players face for misconduct.
The ICC Code of Conduct governs the behaviour of all players, team officials, and support staff in international cricket. It establishes four levels of offences with progressively more severe penalties, from minor reprimands for small transgressions to significant match bans for the most serious breaches. Understanding the Code helps contextualise why certain on-field incidents lead to formal disciplinary action.
Level 1 Offences
Level 1 offences are the least serious category and include: excessive appealing (repeated or theatrical appeals designed to pressure umpires); using offensive language not directed at any individual; displaying obvious dissent through body language such as showing visible anger at a dismissal; and actions contrary to the spirit of the game but not seriously so. Penalties for Level 1 offences range from an official reprimand to a deduction of up to 50 percent of match fees, and are decided by the match referee.
Level 2 Offences
Level 2 offences are more serious and include: showing serious dissent at an umpire's decision through words or actions; making inappropriate physical contact with another player; using language that is obscene, offensive, or insulting to another player or umpire; and ball tampering. Penalties range from 2 to 4 demerit points and a fine of 50 to 100 percent of match fees.
Level 3 and Level 4 Offences
Level 3 offences include: intimidating an umpire; threatening a player or other participant; deliberately and seriously damaging an umpire's authority; and assault. These carry penalties of 4 to 8 demerit points and match bans. Level 4 offences are the most serious and include: actions that are obviously and seriously harmful to the image of cricket; any deliberate attempt to attack or physically assault another person; and deliberate actions that disrupt the course of play. Level 4 offences carry bans of 10 or more Tests or 20 or more ODIs.
Frequently asked questions
How many levels of offences are there in the ICC Code of Conduct?
The ICC Code of Conduct has four levels of offences, ranging from Level 1 (minor transgressions such as excessive appealing) to Level 4 (the most serious offences, including physical assault or deliberately damaging cricket's image). Penalties increase significantly with each level.
What happens when a player accumulates enough demerit points?
Under the ICC's demerit points system, when a player accumulates 8 or more demerit points within a 24-month rolling period, those demerit points are automatically converted into match suspension bans from international cricket.