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| Wednesday, 19 May 2004 |
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The Aussie tour must be called off Chris Broad - the International Referee officiating at the recently concluded Sri Lanka Tour of the Australians informed Sri Lanka Cricket at a meeting he called during the tour that Muttiah Muralitharan's new ball or the "Doosra" cannot be permitted as he found it unacceptable or illegal. Chris Broad was doing this entirely on his own and not because of any complaint he received from the other officiating umpires. Perhaps he had the required authority from the ICC to do this. Of course the entire circumstances was fully explained to the Sri Lanka representatives. In other words Broad told Sri Lanka that they would have to ban the delivery of the "Doosra" if Murali continued to bowl it. I believe Broad made it clear that it was only the "Doosra" that was not acceptable. It was therefore left to Murali and the Sri Lanka Board to make a final decision, and the indications were that Murali would not bawl the "Doosra" in the future. This was the kind of settlement that appeared to be decided upon and that Murali could continue bowling but without the "Doosra". In the meantime Broad had been appointed as match referee for the Zimbabwe and the subsequent Australian tours by the ICC. By a strange move the ICC quietly removed Broad as Sri Lanka's match referee for both the Zimbabwe and Australian tours, and appointed another match referee. Was it to save Broad the embarrassment that he would have earned from the cricketing world if he called Murali, which he would have been forced to do right at the first Sri Lanka match against Zimbabwe, if he bowled the "Doosra" or to postpone Murali's day of execution. If this had happened, as it surely would have, if Broad was not removed, then Murali's breaking Courtney Walsh's record of 519 wickets could have vanished and he would have been damned. He would be in shatters today. Anyway Murali was saved - he lived to fight another day - and of course he got his crown of glory - the breaking of Courtney's record of 519 wickets. One wonders whether it would not have been prudent for the ICC to have informed Murali themselves that what Broad was asking that the "Doosra" only be held back and that he could otherwise proceed with his bowling. This was only the fair thing to do on the face of what Broad appears to have told the Sri Lanka Board. The ICC failed and neglected to do this, and probably left the door open to further insult to one of the world's best spinners, and to one who has brought great fame to the game by his spin wizardry, to his country and himself. The ICC, as the custodian of cricket round the world, including the rights and privileges of cricketers, must ensure that it guides and directs the game in a fair and just manner. It must be able to hold its own - be able to stand fearlessly and defend the game. The situation in Zimbabwe where Sri Lanka had a face a sub-standard team, and to which the Australians are also now exposed is a case in point. The ICC should have made it clear to the countries concerned that they have to get up a fair opposition, and that if this was not done, the visiting countries could decide on their own whether it was worthwhile for them to play Cricket in Zimbabwe against teams that are sub-standard. This should be the standard that the ICC should fearlessly employ. Unfortunately this did not happen. If this indecision was not enough now comes the outrageous statement from the Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, installing himself as the executioner of Muralitharan by his shocking pronouncement that he is a Chucker. Here is a big man - the Prime Minister of Australia breaking loose and pronouncing judgment which is not his business, but the business of the highest governing council in the world - the ICC. It is absolutely unworthy and unbecoming of a Prime Minister of Australia - to indulge in rash statements of this nature. Perhaps it is not surprising that this comes from Australia, where the first insults were hurled at Muralitharan. It took a man like Arjuna Ranatunga to stand and defend Muralitharan. Arjuna took the fight in Australia and went on defending the right of Murali to continue his bowling. It is because of Arjuna that Murali went on to his 520 wickets. It seems Australia just cannot bear the sight of Muralitharan bowling, and is doing everything possible to call a halt to his progress. One wonders whether in the face of this outrageous statement of Prime Minister Howard whether Sri Lanka is to proceed on its tour to Australia. As it is a kind of restricted tour - 2 Test matches only - no one dayers - at two new locations - Wherever Murali went to bowl in Australia he was called a "Chucker". Now with the Prime Minister's rash and irresponsible statement that Murali is a chucker, there will now be screams from Australian spectators. Not only will this be unbearable to Murali but it would be even humiliating and even unsettling to the Sri Lanka team. It will be hard - it will be heavy prejudice all the way against our team in addition to the pressure that will be building up to play the game even better. In the face of all this should we tour Australia. I have no hesitation is asking the team not to tour Australia and expose themselves to the extreme pressures they will have to undergo. In the end the pressure away from the game will be too great to overcome. Our players will not be able to play their game. In their minds they will not be free to do so. All this points to one thing only - it will not be in the interests of Sri Lanka, in the face of what John Howard has said, to insult our cricketers, to tour Australia. The ICC too should step in and give Sri Lanka a free hand in deciding whether they are to tour Australia or not in the face of the statements that have been made by no lesser person than the Prime Minister of Australia John Howard. It hardly leaves Sri Lanka with any other alternative in the face of what it may have to face if the tour of Sri Lanka Cricketers to Australia is proceeded with. Maurice Lord |
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