The
Oval Test sparked another controversy as Darrell Hair declared
England winners by forefiet. Pakistan's decision to protest
and Hair's subsequent actions have drawn the attention of
cricket-lovers from all over the world. Here is what PointCricket
Columnists, Ali Akber Habib and Hassaan AY, have to say.
Ali Akber Habib:
Another test match, another controversy! After no-balling
Muttiah Muralitharan three times in a row in a test match
in Australia and calling his action suspicious, then raising
eyebrows over Shabbir Ahmed’s action and many similar
controversies, the indispensable Darrell Hair strikes again,
accusing Pakistan of ball tempering without any proof. Was
he right or wrong? This is the question on everyone’s
mind and everyone has his/her own reaction and answer. While
according to me he was wrong. Without any proof no one can
accuse anyone of anything. It all happened just as if they
knew someone was going to tamper with the ball! And Pakistan
made the right move by protesting for 25 minutes and not coming
out to play after tea, and what do they get in return? England
winning the match by saying Pakistan forfeited? Or how about
blaming Pakistan of ball tampering the second time at The
Oval and the third time in England? (1989, 1992, 2006) All
these lead to one conclusion – Darrell Hair was not
fair and his actions can find no words to properly justify
his stance!
Hassaan AY
Darrell Hair has once again been successful in gaining attention
of billions of people from all over the world. He loves to
be in the limelight. His actions are not surprisingly unjust
- in fact his reputation has been built on controversy. Pakistan's
protest could have been stronger had they walked off immediately
after the penalty runs were signalled. Nonetheless, the protest
was still valid and for the first time, Pakistan has taken
a firm stance over the prejudice being forced on them. Darrell
Hair should have been hearing edges when he sniffed nothing
in the third test at Headingley, ruling no less than three
times in favour of England batsmen when clear-cut edges were
seen and heard on TV. And then in the fourth test, he sniffed
some wrongdoing when he should have been watching and looking
for the real culprits. Perhaps Darrell Hair needs to be sure
when to sniff and when to see rather than randomly making
judgements. One more thing - the ICC has once again proved
they will support their umpires no matter what happens on
the field. No wonder Billy Doctrove, Hair's understudy, is
still on the panel and officiating matches involving Pakistan.
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