Melbourne: Following the ongoing debate as to what exactly separates legitimate aggression from verbal abuse, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has warned that any player who cross the divide can expect harsher sanctions during the coming World Cup.

The game’s powerbrokers are in the midst of a series of pre-World Cup briefings with the 14 competing nations and one of the key messages being imparted is that breaches of cricket’s Code of Conduct will be viewed dimly.