Jadeja allowed to appeal against ICC fine involving spat with England's Anderson

Ravindra JadejaSouthampton ( UK), July 31- Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja will be allowed to appeal against a fine for his part in an incident involving England's James Anderson, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced.

All-rounder Jadeja was fined 50 percent of his match fee for misconduct in a confrontation with Anderson during the drawn first Test in Nottingham on July 10.

According to Sport24, ICC regulations prevented Jadeja contesting his fine after match referee David Boon, the former Australia batsman, downgraded his offence to Level One under the ICC's code of conduct.

However, in a brief statement issued Wednesday from its Dubai headquarters during the ongoing third Test between England and India in Southampton, the ICC said Jadeja would be allowed an appeal.

His case will be heard by retired judge Gordon Lewis at the same time the Australian considers the more serious Level Three charge levelled against Anderson by India on August 1 -- the day after the third Test is due to end.

A statement read: "The ICC today (Wednesday) confirmed that, after receiving legal submissions from the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India), it has accepted India's Ravindra Jadeja's request for an appeal against the recent decision by match referee, David Boon.

"The appeal will be heard at the same time as the disciplinary hearing taking place in respect of the charge against James Anderson on Friday 1 August, in Southampton."

ICC chief executive David Richardson urged players on both sides to refrain from further public comment on the issue.

If Anderson is found guilty of a Level Three offence, he could be banned for at least two matches, which would rule him out of both the fourth Test at his Lancashire home ground of Old Trafford starting on August 7 and the series finale at The Oval in south London.

The Anderson-Jadeja row comes after a recent revamp of the ICC where the 'Big Three' nations of India, England and Australia took charge of the global governing body.

That Jadeja has been allowed an appeal will be seen in some quarters as further proof of the off-field power of financial powerhouse India, which provides world cricket with three-quarters of its income. (ANI)