Auburn Mariner
Well-Known Member
I am astonished that the BCCI (Board of Cricket Control in India) has suspended its tour of Australia.
This smacks of arrogance and piousness, given that the BCCI has almost complete control of the ICC due to to the massive Cricket Cable TV market on the sub-continent.
Let's look at the facts:
1. Umpires Steven Bucknor and Mark Benson made several errors in the Sydney Test, most to the detriment of India. My heart bleeds, this is cricket, you take the good with the bad. This has been reversed on countless occasions when we have visited the sub-continent.
2. The Test would probably have been drawn if the umpires made no errors.
3. Harbajahan Singh has been found guilty of racism by the neutral match referee, the magnificent ex-South African all-rounder Michael Procter. Yep, he has the right to appeal, but to put a whole tour on hold for the appeal is disgraceful blackmail.
4. It's all very well for sub-continent teams to cry "racism" when we accuse Murali, Harbajahan, Shaoib Malik, Saqlain Mushtaq and Kumar Dharmesena of chucking (they ALL bowl the doosra), but we accuse a player of racism against one of our players, who happens to be of West Indian ancestry, all hell breaks loose. Talk about all things being equal but not equal for others?
5. I have no issue with Michael Clarke claiming the Ganguly catch, or Ganguly waiting for a decision. Normal cricket if you ask me.
6. Ricky Ponting DID catch the ball off Mahendra Singh Dhoni. FULL STOP. The Indian journo who questioned Ponting's integrity is entitled to his opinion, but mate, you're WAYYYYYYYYYYYYY out of line.
7. Steven Bucknor should now retire.
In summary, a great win (what a finish...Merry thinks our neighbours must now be DEAF) has been deliberately sabotaged by the sore losers of the BCCI in New Delhi. Harbajahan, you're a PROVEN racist...enjoy your deserved suspension.
I should note that I have contacted my UTS mates who are Indian, Paki, Lankan and Bango today - they all think that the umpiring was rotten but stop short of supporting Harbajahan.
We live in interesting times.
This smacks of arrogance and piousness, given that the BCCI has almost complete control of the ICC due to to the massive Cricket Cable TV market on the sub-continent.
Let's look at the facts:
1. Umpires Steven Bucknor and Mark Benson made several errors in the Sydney Test, most to the detriment of India. My heart bleeds, this is cricket, you take the good with the bad. This has been reversed on countless occasions when we have visited the sub-continent.
2. The Test would probably have been drawn if the umpires made no errors.
3. Harbajahan Singh has been found guilty of racism by the neutral match referee, the magnificent ex-South African all-rounder Michael Procter. Yep, he has the right to appeal, but to put a whole tour on hold for the appeal is disgraceful blackmail.
4. It's all very well for sub-continent teams to cry "racism" when we accuse Murali, Harbajahan, Shaoib Malik, Saqlain Mushtaq and Kumar Dharmesena of chucking (they ALL bowl the doosra), but we accuse a player of racism against one of our players, who happens to be of West Indian ancestry, all hell breaks loose. Talk about all things being equal but not equal for others?
5. I have no issue with Michael Clarke claiming the Ganguly catch, or Ganguly waiting for a decision. Normal cricket if you ask me.
6. Ricky Ponting DID catch the ball off Mahendra Singh Dhoni. FULL STOP. The Indian journo who questioned Ponting's integrity is entitled to his opinion, but mate, you're WAYYYYYYYYYYYYY out of line.
7. Steven Bucknor should now retire.
In summary, a great win (what a finish...Merry thinks our neighbours must now be DEAF) has been deliberately sabotaged by the sore losers of the BCCI in New Delhi. Harbajahan, you're a PROVEN racist...enjoy your deserved suspension.
I should note that I have contacted my UTS mates who are Indian, Paki, Lankan and Bango today - they all think that the umpiring was rotten but stop short of supporting Harbajahan.
We live in interesting times.