Sydney: Disgraced Australian cricketer Shane Warne will have to wait a little longer to learn whether he is allowed to play in English charity matches. The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) and the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) cannot agree and said on Wednesday they will seek a ruling from an independent arbitrator on the issue. The ACB directors decided last weekend that the high-profile leg spinner, banned from cricket until February 10 next year after testing positive to a banned diuretic, could not take part in any organised cricket matches, including charity and testimonial games, during his 12-month ban. But the players' union is now involved because the two bodies have different interpretations of the memorandum of understanding between them. "The ACB interpretation of the ACB/ACA Memorandum of Understanding which governs the relationship between the ACB, ACA and contracted players, is that players suspended under the ACB Anti-Doping Policy cannot play in any organised cricket games, including charity and testimonial games," the Board said in a statement released late on Wednesday. "The ACA interpretation is that suspended players can play in bona-fide charity and testimonial games." Warne has received an offer to play for Lashings, an English charity side, during his suspension. The Board also ruled on several other issues surrounding Warne's suspension, allowing him to train with state and national sides while he is suspended. "The Board did approve other activity while Warne is suspended, including training with club, state and national teams; taking part in coaching and promotional clinics, school promotions, junior development programs and working as a media commentator," the ACB said. The statement said the Board and the association were discussing an approach to the Law Institute of Victoria after the Easter holidays for a recommendation about a suitable arbitrator. Warne made an unannounced appearance on a Channel Nine sports program on Wednesday and said he would concentrate for the time being on his unofficial involvement at Australian Football League club St Kilda. "I'm forgetting about cricket for the next few months and watching a bit of footy," he said. "As the cricket season starts up, I will start getting back into cricket."
Copyright AFP 2001
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