Opinion

Is the PCB Ready?

By Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd.)
Westridge, Rawalpindi

Now that the England tour is over and the income from the test matches and the one day internationals is safely tucked into the vaults of the ICC and the Cricket Boards of Pakistan and England & Wales , hearing of Inzamam ball tempering and bringing cricket to disrepute could take place in London on 27 and 28 September, as announced.

The writing on the wall is clear – for those who are willing to read it. Some of the statements of the ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed are quite disturbing, to say the least. In his obvious efforts of siding and shielding his countryman Darrel Hair, he seems to have gone a little too far. Darrell Hair’s email saying, ”A one-off payment to compensate the loss of future earnings and retain a payment over the next four years which I believe would have been the best years I have to offer ICC and world umpiring. This payment is be the sum of US $500,000 - details of which must be kept confidential offer to resign,” and the ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed telling a news conference in London that the umpire had been under great stress. And that he was satisfied Hair had not made the offer with any "dishonest, underhand or malicious intent" cast dark shadows on the events to come. The CE of the ICC while discarding the non-availability of any video evidence for the ball tempering came up with the most illogical and totally irrelevant argument that it was not necessary, and - listen to this - had Video Recording been the basis of evidence almost all the culprits in jails would have gone scot-free. Does he think that every scene of crime is covered by a battery of video cameras like a cricket ground? Mr. Speed does not stop here and goes on to suggest the most unprecedented and unheard of in the realms of cricket a forensic test for the ball! He is simply bent upon finding some method of proving the ball being tampered with.

The only redeeming feature is that the hearing will be conducted by the senior match referee Ranjan Madugalle of Sri Lanka , who is expected to be unbiased against the Asians and can withstand any pressure. Even then, I hope the PCB, for a change, has done its home work and is ready for any eventuality even for going to the court, if need be. Best of luck, Inzi.

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