The proceedings in the last Cricket Test between Team India and Champion Australia in the SCG has brought in the feeling that colonialism is still there at least in the game of cricket and in the minds of the hosting team. The performance and spirit shown by the Indian cricket team was exemplary. However that of the officials and the Team Australia was deplorable. The whole match witnessed several irregularities in almost all fields, particularly in umpiring.
The ICC up brings the values like “openness, honesty and integrity”. It says “We work to the highest ethical standards. We do what we say we are going to do, in the way we say we are going to do it”. But the happenings in the Sydney test do not match the aforesaid norm. The dominant character of laxity and indifference shown by the Australians towards all opposition teams in general and niggardly Afro-Asians in particular is well disclosed in the past years. Remember the issues regarding the Srisant saga last year. The Australian practice of dwindling the opponents psychologically through abusing; and showing jesters was well remonstrated by him, though he paid prize for that. It seems that one or two players like him are needed in every team for opposing such practices.
It was just similar incident that happened in the said Test which resulted in the dismissal of Harbhajan. He has been banned for three Tests after being found guilty under level 3 of ICC’s code of conduct, for an alleged ‘monkey comment’ directed at Australian player Andrew Symonds. The same allegation was charged against the Indian audience in the Eden Gardens, Culcutta last year during the Australian Tour of India. In the Sydney issue, the comment (if happened) must be the result of annoyance or disturbance by Symonds to Harbhajan. (The video picture shows a conversation between the two). Symonds is a trump-card for the Australian team as they regularly use this monkey comment or ethnic abuse to upset the opponents. With this complaint the Australians themselves are abusing poor Symonds ethnically.
Poor Umpiring
According to the ICC ‘the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and Referees comprises the top umpires in the world. To ensure the highest possible standards and guarantee impartial adjudication, two umpires from the Emirates Elite Panel stand in almost all Test matches around the world. The ICC supports the ongoing development of all international officials through the appointment of Regional Umpiring Performance Managers, by bringing them together for training on an annual basis, by employing a full-time digital video specialist to help review decisions, and by conducting regular reviews in Dubai as they pass through on assignment”. Despite these precautions and trainings the umpires in the Sydney Test behaved like school kids. Nobody felt that they are making proper decisions, particularly on dismissals and no-ball calls. From the part of two umpires Steve Buckner and Mark Benson there was a visible chauvinism towards the unconditional victory of the Home Team. In other words it seems that the outcome of the game was scripted for the invulnerable Australians in advance. Or the umpires might have thought that the Australians are unbeatable by anyone.
Un(fortunately?) these decisions adversely affected the spirit of the game. The ICC should take immediate actions to correct these avoidable mistakes and retain the spirit of game. They must stand for the realization of the objectives:
Respect for our diversity
We are an international organization with a global focus and act at all times without prejudice, fear or favour.
Fairness and equity
We are fair, just and utterly impartial."
Monday, January 7, 2008
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