I am not an avid cricket fan, but, watching the events develop the last few days, I cannot but write a few thoughts on the ball tampering issue currently plaguing Pakistan.
Why do Asian Cricket teams always get a raw deal from the ICC? , as if it is not enough that these teams have to cope up with internal problems with their Boards, Govt & Tax authoriries.
The entire cricketing fraternity is up in arms against the text book(read deaf & dumb) approach of the ICC over the ball tampering charge & penalty runs levied by the two culprit umpires - Mr Darryl Hair(the prime accused) and Mr BillyDoctrove(the confederate) on the fourth and almost decisive day of Test match between Pakistan& England at Oval. Pakistan's refusal to take the field after tea has got ICC slamming them for *bringing disrepute to the game*. Pakistan's dislike for the controversial Mr Darryl Hair is well known to the whole world and the ICC. Despite this, ICC has *specially* taken upon itself to appoint him as one of the umpires in all the matches involving Pakistan. Should we call it ill-conceived or well-contrived?
It is accepted that teams should not be allowed to influence the choice of umpires, but they must definitely be given a fair say in putting some *esteemed* ones on a negative list, going by thier*past credentials*. If such a list was permitted, Mr Hair would undoubtedly top Pakistan's list while Mr. Steve Bucknor would top team India's black listof umpires. If Mr Hair's past decade of hair-raising umpiring decisions is anything to go by, he should have long been delisted not only from Elite panel but permanently from Umpiring profession itself. How he was reinstated into the Elite group is still a mystery.Could it be Australia's arm twisting or Pakistani's misuse of arm..
Nevertheless, the investigation on the ball tampering issue should concentrate on visual evidence more than anything else to nail the real culprit. The entire career of key players and the pride of the nation are at stake here. In the absence of substantial evidence, Mr Hair & Doctrove shold be given the pink slips for bringing *bringing disrepute to the game*, with appropriate penalty, and prison term!
You may want to Read this.
9 comments:
"His decision was Hair-splitting."
:D
Gandy pretty much said all there is to say - except on the subject of Darrell Hair's reputation. I am not an avid follower of sports these days, but even in those days (gosh, do I feel old and all ;)) Darrell Hair controversial decisions couldn't be told apart.
Whatever happened to David Shepperd?Is he still around? Splendid chappie :P
**That ICC and its "umpires" are generally anti-Asian,is a fact.
dunno how true that is...cos sometimes when non-Asian umpires make a decision that affects the Asian teams, it's always seen as racist. It's so easy/hard to judge.
Keshi.
Sound like a biased view.. But Pakistanis usually cheat a lot..
Did you know that Shahid Afridi has admitted to ball tampering in an interview on timesNOW
Below is the interview
"It’s the biggest story of this year from the world of cricket and adds another dimension to the on-going ball tampering row.
In an exclusive interview with TIMES NOW in Feb 2006, Pakistan all rounder Shahid Afridi admits that Pakistani players can't do without tampering. This is the first time any player has made such an explosive admission and that too to a TV channel.
Q. Do you get the time to tamper with the ball?
A . We do not have that much time. Only few get to do some bit of ball tampering. If the weather is dry and hot then you can get some help from the pitch while bowling. But in that also you have to “help” the ball yourself.
Q. Earlier, I remember the ball used to go straight from the wicket-keeper to Ijaz bhai at point?
A. Yeah, those who knew about tampering at that time used to do it.
Q. They all used to have long nails also?
A. The kind of cricket that is going on, on these pitches, it’s death for the bowlers, if you don’t tamper.
Q. Do you feel bowlers get less advantage?
A. If any team tampers with the ball then I don’t think there’s anything wrong in that. It’s torture for the bowlers to bowl.
Q. Do you think the ICC should make ball tampering legal? The umpire checks you every time if you try to do something?
A. They shouldn't make it so official that teams start doing it from the 3rd or 4th over itself. I don’t think any rule can make it official. But you should be allowed to do some tampering after the 30th or 40th over. The game and its rules are changing so this should also be allowed.
Q. So you can tamper the ball after the 30th over?
A. They should keep it to a limit.
Q. Should they change the ball?
A. In any case, the ball is changed after the 35th over.
Q. Umpire Steve Bucknor always smells the ball to check whether there is anything on it?
A. Some people put sweets or Vaseline for it to shine. The gums and mints players eat are put on the ball to make it shine.
Q. Does it happen with mint?
A. Yes, it happens with mint also. Personally, I have never tried it with mint. But all these fast bowlers and fielders standing at mid-off use all this. The English players use it a lot.
(By Faisal Shariff, Dinesh Chopra)
Watch the story on video "
Link - http://www.timesnow.tv/articleshow/1913784.cms
However, I also agree that these umpires have been unfair to Asian countries..
USed to like Dickey Bird and Sheperd though..
Gandy: Agreed..
Gollum:David shepherd is retired I guess. I used to like his Nelson's hop!
Keshi: Rascism has always been alleged aginst australians..be it Dean Jones calling a bearded south afrivan "terrorist' or slurring by spectators.. Darryl Hair, being an australian could be no different, i guess.
Parag: Ya I watched that interview..but nobody cares cos he ain't in the team.
**: Rascism has always been alleged aginst australians..
It's not always Aussie that actually say Racist terms...it's just that this story is in the news these days. What abt what happened at the WC few months ago...I guess that story is forgotten now.
Well every race is racist at one time or the other. And we shouldnt forget that we Indians/Sri Lankans can be very racist towards the Westerners too. Just that the Westerners get blamed all the time cos it's just assumed that way all the time and it's really not fair.
I guess every situation should be handled individually w.o. comparing with the past and generalising all Aussies as racists.
Keshi.
Keshi: I was speaking of racism with spl ref to crickrt. That many australians have slurred on field is a known fact,because of which many players have individual hatred to that country. Cricket being India's national love affair, any such incident leaves a deep scar in the minds of Indian fan. The dean jones episode has added only fuel to the fire.
One can't deny that every race is a racist at some time or the other.. but when so long as it is unnoticed it does not snowball into hate-campaign. Burpeople with near iconic status do such things, it adds an entirely new dimension to the issue.
Finally, you have every right & reason to support your adopted country 'cause when in rome u gotta speak roman!
Post 9/11 the whole western hemisphere looks at asians, with suspicion.. So I should'nt single out Australia as such..
some hair rising story...
barber
ur right girl...but what Im trying to say is when it comes to such events we must not look at history and generalise. Instead we should look at the current issue in hand.
**Finally, you have every right & reason to support your adopted country 'cause when in rome u gotta speak roman!
na it's not abt supporting the country I live in, no ways :) That would make me very biased.
Keshi.
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