WWF is one sport that has so a drama in it and F1 racing comes next with the recent scams. India and Australia have ensured that Cricket will take the third place and on course to go higher. A great test match series(2007-08) will be remembered for the off-field events than for the game that was played. At the end(?) of all this, only one person Mr. Harbhajan Singh gets a 50% match fee fine. There were many others who escaped. Let us punish them all.
Ricky Ponting
(1) Rashid Latif had got a 5 match ban for’wrong-appealing’ and trying to cheat the umpire. If that was a correct judgement, then Ricky ponting too should be banned when he declared Ganguly out in the sydney test. There is clear evidence captured on cameras of Mr. Ponting pointing his fingers up towards the sky with an intent to declare the batsman was out. It is also clear that Mr. Benson was intimidated by this gesture when he declared the batsman out. Everything works on evidence these days(except for decisions favoring Australian players where trust works), so that made me state the proof
(2) As a captain of Australian cricket team he was responsible for the conduct of the team; Andrew Symonds provoked Harbhajan Singh, Brad Hogg used abusive language. He could not keep his team in control. There has been history of captains being punished for these. On that grounds, Ponting deserves one as well
Steve Bucknor/Mark Benson
Umpires are the most important people for the game. They should be assertive clear and at their fair best.
Steve Bucknor should be sacked(he is only temporarily suspended) for his incompetency. He had done a wonderful job over the years. Now, it is very clear that this person is not in his best.
Mark Benson should be severely punished to have based his decision on the players’ word. If he has to do it that way, why is he there? Why doesnt he ask the batsman if he nicked the ball before giving out?(Did I echo Sunil Gavaskar, trust me it was coincidence)
Mike Procter
This match refree has glorious record of consistent bad handling of match proceedings. I hope the person is good and has no bias! But, to ban a player for racial abuse without much evidence is utterly insensible. Also, Sachin Tendulkar whose evidence was not accepted by Procter is the primary evidence in the next hearing!
Andrew Symonds
How did he get away?! It is dead damn clear that he started it all. He has testified that
he has used abusive language during the hearing by Hansen. Harbhajan gets a fine for the same crime, how did he get away? Also, he has an opinion that there cannot be anything friendly on the cricket field! He better play rugby than Cricket. Cricket has its own gentleness.
Sunil Gavaskar
He could be a great cricketer. But there is this thing called tounge with which he aggrevate anything that is alredy burning. He is a very reactive person, with obvious passion for Indian cricket. But as a commentator and with a responsible post in the ICC he should have his toungue in check. He called Mike Procter a racist and this has clearly provoked more thoughts than existing.
BCCI
This cricket governing body is bringing shame to India. There are means to raise voice against some injustice done, but not by blatantly showing its power. They should have either cancelled the tour or not say it. To threaten that the tour would be boycotted is nothing but a’cheap’ tactic. Nobody can now shut the media in Australia and they are already going beresk about the reversal of racial abuse against Harbhajan. Even if it was proper justice, it would go down as something meted out because of BCCI’s pressure.
Harbhajan singh
Give him more. 50% of match fee is nothing considering what his temparament has brought on to Cricket. He has been reported 5 times under ICC code of conduct. To have supported Harbhajan is fair until this point. He should not be punished at the hands of Aussies or unfairly for his foolishness. But he sure deserves severe punishment from BCCI.
With so many names and lack of time let me excuse Bradd Hogg and Michel Clarke:) Punish them all, so that this should linger in their mind for the rest of their cricketing life. And let us get on with Cricket . and hope the future discussions would be scorecard/scorecard related only!
Smiles,
Vinayak