The ICC wise men - Part 1

Recently, the International Cricket Council formed a cricket committee to look at all matters cricket. At their recently concluded two day meeting in Dubai, numerous recommendations were unleashed on to the unsuspecting public. All designed to rekindle interest and better cricket all the world round.

Firstly, the issue of ball tampering reared it’s ugly head. The list of unfair or unpermitted actions included:

• Deliberately throwing the ball into the ground to rough it up.
• Applying any non-artificial substance for the purpose other than to polish the ball.

How the umpires are meant to discern that the actions are deliberately to change the condition of the ball is beyond me. What if a fielder drops the ball on the ground, is that now deliberate or uncoordination? Fielders in the outfield often throw bump balls to ensure the ball gets to the stumps or fielders. Do fielders with weak arms now get penalised?

It is understandable and quite commendable that ball tampering is on the forefront of the committee and the eradication of such on their minds. However, the line between deliberate tampering and accidental is so thin that even if one were pulled up for the offence, the evidence presented may not stand up at all.

Regardless of all the rules and regulations enforced, tampering will always lurk in some corner of the cricketing outfield waiting to rear it’s ugly head. The only thing one can expect from the officials is consistency across both teams.

It reminds me of an anecdote by Chris Pringle, former New Zealand fast bowler and his escapades in Pakistan. While reverse-swing was still in its infancy, New Zealand toured Pakistan at a time when neutral umpires were unheard of. By consistently scuffing up the ball, Imran Khan and his band of merry cricketers were able to devastate through the New Zealand batting lineup. After numerous complaints to the umpire that went unheeded, Chris Pringle decided that he would fight fire with fire. Using a bottle top on the outfield, he scuffed the cricket ball to return his best ever figures in international cricket. When the Pakistan team complained to the umpire, his response was Now it is the same for both teams

More to follow.

Murder they tried to write...

Bob Woolmer, former coach of the Pakistan cricket team, was found dead in his hotel room on March 18. Since then, there have been many twists and turns in the investigation by Jamaican police. Such varying reports from strangulation to snake venom in wine bottles to the implication of former Pakistani cricketer Mushtaq Ahmed.

Enter Scotland Yard. After detailed investigations, their conclusions were a lot less sensational. Bob Woolmer died of natural causes – heart failure and chronic ill health. Claims that had been rubbished by the Jamaican Police as unhelpful.

Spare a thought for the Woolmer family, being to-ed and fro-ed in multiple directions. But still the drama continued, with the lead pathologist claiming that he stood by his story.
Amidst all this was of course public speculation on divides within the Pakistan camp and claims of match fixing and fundamentalism.

It seems that the rollercoaster has come to an end. Although, Jamaican police are yet to officially comment, it is not widely being reported that they will have to make a retraction that Bob Woolmer did in fact die of natural causes. An unfortunate but rather mundane affair after all.

A full chronology is on Cricinfo
I guess that’s why there isn’t a CSI: Jamaica.

It's only a game

The cricket world cup is upon us. 16 nations take on each other in the idyllic paradise that is the West Indies to see who will be triumphant and crowned world champions come 28^th April 2007. It has been a week of dizzying highs and plummeting lows from shock wins by Bangladesh against India and Ireland knocking out former world champions Pakistan. But there won’t be any celebrations today… today, the whole cricketing world is in mourning. Bob Woolmer, Pakistani coach, has passed away after being found unconscious in his hotel room.

Yesterday, when Bangladesh and Ireland triumphed at the world cup, there would have been millions of Indians and Pakistanis in disbelief. But it’s only a game, India and Pakistan will play another day and World Cups will keep coming around. On a day like this, there is no carnival atmosphere or celebrations. A day like today puts everything in perspective. Win or lose, as the cliché goes, It’s only a game. For there are far more important things in life.

Today the entire cricketing world unites for a greater reason, a more important purpose – to pay their respects to Bob Woolmer, an ambassador of the game, a fantastic player, a tremendous coach but most importantly a friend and compatriot of the cricketing fraternity.