Is Harbhajan Concerns Acceptable on LBW Decision?

 

In 2^nd Test Match between India and England Stuart Broad completed his hat-trick. During this hat-tricks umpire misjudged Harbhajan Sing LBW decision. Infact the ball struck the bat before it hit the pads, therefore, Harbhajan sing was not out and he was victim of misjudged decision. 

After given out, he was upset and shown his unhappiness by shacking his head.  Now the question is, was the reaction of Harbhajan Sing was acceptable. To me, after opposing bowel tracking system in this series BCCI and  Indian players have no rights to show their concerns on misjudged LBW decisions. Because ICC and rest of cricket boards have taken all possible measures to avoid situation like this, but it is BCCI awful stance on “Ball tracking system” which prevent the use of latest technology for correction of misjudged decisions. So, the right place where Harbhajan Sing has to show his concern is the office BCCI.

That’s Why BCCI is Opposing Complete Use of UDRS

This is first Test match between India and England. India has to survive the last day, otherwise they have to face defeat. India has already loss a wicket. Now Gambir is facing Stuart Broad.  Broad came and delivered the bowl, the ball struck straight to Gambir’s pads. All the viewers are convinced that he is LBW out, commentators including Indian commentators are sure that he is out even without watching action replay. But the decision of umpire Billy Bowden is not out. Later on TV replays confirmed that he was clearly LBW out.

The question is why umpire misjudged such an easy decision.  And the answer is obvious. After the exclusion of two umpires Steve Buckner and Daryl Harper on the desires of BCCI and Indian players from International cricket, naturally every umpire will be in fear that he could be the next victim if he made Indians unhappy. Therefore, umpire will award the benefit of even marginal doubt to Indians. And the same  happened in the above case.  India knows that ICC and other boards can do nothing against his players and board because of strong financial position. Therefore, Indians are working on a plan to convert every marginal benefit of doubt in favour of her players. That’s why India is opposing UDRS. Although BCCI is now supporting half part of UDRS but in absence of Ball tracking system this half UDRS is nothing.  

In future we will see more and more cases like this one, when viewers and commentators will be sure that the players is out but umpire will misjudge it because of fear of end of career.

Yellow, Green and Red Cards in Cricket

There was an age when cricket was known as game of gentlemen. It was game of discipline and intellectuality. Players were strict to discipline and traditional spirit of cricket.  But due to prevailed commercialism, cricket is no more game of gentlemen. On one side, players prefer to use every legal and most of the time illegal methods to win the matches. And on the other side some players attempt to fix the matches for money. In some cases player are involved in pressurizing umpires, ball tempering, stepping on pitch and slagging for illegally wining the matches. And in some other cases players are involved in loosing the match through matching fixing and spot fixing for earning the money. All these facts make us to think that the condition of cricket is now no more in traditional spirit.

The controversies of Javed Miadad and Kiran Moray, Harbhajan Sing and Andrew Symonds are clear examples of indiscipline. The worst cases of match fixing of Azhar Ud Din, Jadeja, Parbhakar, Hansi Cronji, Harshell Gibs, Marlon Samule, Shane Warn, Mark Waugh,  Salman Butt, Amir and Asif are clear evidence of corruption in cricket.

The current procedure of punishment of ICC is not working because most of the time financially strong boards succeeded to provide safe guard to their players. In case of Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Sing, BCCI used its strong financial position and make the tribunal to clear Harbhajan Sing from all the allegations even in presence of all evidences against Harbhajan Sing. Therefore, wobbly circumstance of cricket demands changes in laws for maintaining discipline and dignity of cricket on the field.

After recent Indian Captain Dhoni and umpire Daryl Harper controversy cricket experts are thinking regarding introduction of punishment cards (Yellow, Green, Red) like football and hockey for maintaining discipline.  

To me this would be a very positive step because by this procedure umpire will be able to award punishment to players before intervention of their boards. Therefore, players will be more careful keeping in mind punishment from umpire on the spot.  

All-Time Greatest Test Team

ICC has announced the results of polling for ‘All-time Greatest Test Team’. According to these results following players have been included in team:-

Virender Sehwag, Sunil Gavaskar, Donald Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Kapil Dev, Adam Gilchrist (wicketkeeper), Shane Warne, Wasim Akram, Curtly Ambrose, Glenn McGrath.

4 Indian players are part of this team. The selection of Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tenudulkar was expected, but induction of Sehwag and Kapil Dev is facing strong criticism from allover the world. Amazingly Most wicket Taking bowler in test cricket history Muttiah Muralitharan is not part of this list. This is enough for understanding the selection process. The only reason due to which Morli is not part of this list is because he is not Indian. Kapil Dev is there while Imran Khan and Botham are out. Sehwag is there while Sir Viv Richards is out. It means that because of huge vote bank, Indian players succeeded in making place in this team. Otherwise on merit you cannot exclude Muralitharan, Imran Khan, Viv Richard, Javed Miadad and Waqar Younis from a real great team. These are player who introduced new arts to test cricket. 

Dhoni Terrified Darrell Harper

Umpire Darrell Harper has accused ICC for double standards and unjust support for Indian players. He said "When I need to consider which team is playing and apply the laws differently for different teams, then this game has lost sight of its standards and its values,"

He said, I am wonder how ICC ignored Dhoni’s violation of Code of Conduct, when he criticize umpiring decisions publically.  He added, "I waited for a response or some action from management... and I waited. No response came... no support, no action. This wasn't the first time that I felt that I had been left out on a limb” He further added "People don't always think before they speak. Some spontaneous comments can be harmful to the game and its best interests. I had previously imagined that was the reason for a clause in the ICC Code of Conduct about 'inappropriate public comment'. "  He said in Jamica Test Match the behavour of some Indian players was insulting against me. He said that when I ordered Parveen Kumar out of attack for stepping on Pitch, Dhoni came near to me and threaten, 'We have had issues with you before, Daryl'.

He said after all these issues I was expecting that Match Referee will take action against Indian players but due to unknown reason even Match referee not call any Indian player. It is because that ICC is interesting in Indian money which is involved in cricket despite looking for the betterment of cricket. He added, when I say that ICC is silent, I realized that some one have to speak against this bed behavior of ICC and Indian players, therefore, I decide to opt for early retirement as being affiliated with ICC I was not in position to express my views in front of media.

This is not the first time when some one criticized ICC for accepting unnecessary influence from India. Tony Greg and Rana Tonga has already done so in past. Before Harper Indian Board has made Steve Buckner to retire from umpiring in Australia. So many times every country has faced bed decisions from umpires, but not a single board has made it the problem of his ego. But the matter of BCCI and Indian media is different. After every occasional bed decision they made it a problem of life and death and tried to humiliate the umpires. Unfortunately ICC never tried to prevent India from doing so. In recent past India opposed UDRS for no solid reason while all other cricket playing countries were in favour of this system. In another case India attempted to hold the Presidentship of ICC in her hand for ever by demanding amendments in rotation policy. Shamefully boards like England and Australia accompanied India in doing so. Thanks to South Africa due her vote India failed to get this worst objective against cricket at the spot.

The question is why ICC is not preventing India from doing so. The answer is obvious. President of ICC is Indian and CEO of ICC is Indian born. Unfortunately after holding the seats of ICC these two are still working as Indian. But the demands of holding ICC seats is “working for cricket” not supporting “country dominating objectives”.  Looking at the performance of these Indian as part of ICC management, most of cricket fans are demanding that the Name of ICC should be changed to “Indian Cricket Council”.

To me its look like the knife has been given in the hands of monkey. Now wait and see what monkeys will do with cricket. 

India Vs England – Test for “Lions at Home”

It is known fact that the performance of India has remained always outstanding at home. India has defeated Australia in India when Australia was on top due to some extra ordinary performance by Harbhajan Sing and Nayan Mongia. Performance of India in the recent World Cup is another evidence of good performance at home.

After wining ICC World Cup 2011, Indian cricket fans are expecting continuation in this performance. The expectations of Indian cricket fans are very high. On the other hand England is also in good form. Although in recent World Cup the performance of England team was ordinary at slow pitches but at home England is always tough side. The recent performance of England against runner-up of World Cup 2011 “Sri Lanka” is encouraging for England. 

Now when both England and India are in good form, cricket fans are waiting for sensational encounters between the two.  Let see, can India wash the spot of “LIONS AT HOME” from her record? Let see, can England restore her dignity which she loss in World Cup 2011 due to worst performance?

Pakistan Vs India – The Kris Srikanth Factor

It was 2^nd Match of  the series between Pakistan and India in 1987. Aggressive opener of India Kris Srikanth scored 123 runs which was alarming for Pakistan. No doubt he was an aggressive customer. In the next match Pakistan came with a very aggressive strategy. In the beginning of the inning Wasim Akram hit Kris Srikanth on his eyebrow. It was a nasty glob for India as he was not able to continue the inning. Eventually he was taken to hospital for stitches. Later on he was not able to continue the series and was send back to home.  

After that hit Srikanth loss confidence against Pakistani fast bowlers forever and the evidence is his performance in 1989 series in Pakistan.

In 1989 when umpire judged Kris Srikanth as LBW, he showed his dissent. He was screaming and was showing like this is the end of the world and India cannot win in absence of him.

Imran Khan then caption of Pakistan cricket team who is a man of principle, called him back by the curtsy of umpire.  On the next delivery he was caught behind by the keeper.  This was the end of Kris Srikanth innings but in the memories of cricket fans this incident will alive for ever. Especially in cricket relationship of Pakistan and India this incident is of importance in general and for Pakistanis in particular. Indian may avoid to talk regarding this incident but Pakistani love to discuss this incident again and again.