Dubai, Dec. 17 : ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat has identified slow over-rates and verbal abuse as two key areas that must be kept in check for cricket to maintain its feel-good factor over the coming months.

Lorgat confirmed he had written to all Emirates ICC match referees and umpires asking them to be "assertive and proactive" in dealing with the issues.

And, he added that players, and especially captains, also bore a major responsibility to ensure the game was played in the right spirit and at the right pace.