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Craig HillEngland v Pakistan: What a nightmare
August 21st 2006 12:39
Looking to claim victory and pride in the fourth and final test of the NatWest Test series between England and Pakistan, everything has gone completely pear-shaped for the visitors with an unbelieveable, unimaginable day of play yesterday.
With Pakistan firmly in the box seat of the match on the fourth day, umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove came to an unexpected meeting during the 56th over. After puzzling almost everyone, it was found that both Hair and Doctrove concluded that the quarter seam (the stitching) on the ball had been lifted, and thus the ball had to be changed. However, controversy really kicked off after the tea break, as the Pakistani side refused to take the field.
Even wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal was seen deliberately sitting out the front of the pavilion reading the paper in protest of the scrupulous decision made by Hair to change the ball, accusing the Pakistan side of ball-tampering and thus cheating. So in accordance with the official ICC rules of cricket, the umpires had no choice but to deem Pakistan's actions as a vow of forfeit, and hence handed England a tainted victory.
But you think things couldn't get any worse - they did. Proceeding the umpires' decision, Inzy and the rest of the Pakistan side finally strode onto the field, amongst a frustrated and disgruntled crowd who were ill-informed of the reasoning for such a prolonged delay. Despite their belated appearence, umpire Hair refused to take the field after making the decision, which further ignited the furore between umpires and players.
Play was abandoned for the day, and it only got worse 4 hours later when the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) made its official forfeiture of the match. Tainted and hurt by the decision, Pakistan has blamed Hair for the tragic conclusion of the match, deeming his actions as disrespectful and unjustified, as they still seek the 'proof' over the ball tampering allegations. However, a final statement was made by ICC chairman Malcolm Speed who exclaimed that the ICC was in full support of Hair and Doctrove, whom both had no other choice but to follow the rules and also announced that Pakistan were to be charged for 'changing the condition of the match ball' (ICC Law 2.10).
A sad day for cricket, but a great one for the media.
With Pakistan firmly in the box seat of the match on the fourth day, umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove came to an unexpected meeting during the 56th over. After puzzling almost everyone, it was found that both Hair and Doctrove concluded that the quarter seam (the stitching) on the ball had been lifted, and thus the ball had to be changed. However, controversy really kicked off after the tea break, as the Pakistani side refused to take the field.
Umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove consult over the condition of the match ball. Image Getty Images
But you think things couldn't get any worse - they did. Proceeding the umpires' decision, Inzy and the rest of the Pakistan side finally strode onto the field, amongst a frustrated and disgruntled crowd who were ill-informed of the reasoning for such a prolonged delay. Despite their belated appearence, umpire Hair refused to take the field after making the decision, which further ignited the furore between umpires and players.
Play was abandoned for the day, and it only got worse 4 hours later when the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) made its official forfeiture of the match. Tainted and hurt by the decision, Pakistan has blamed Hair for the tragic conclusion of the match, deeming his actions as disrespectful and unjustified, as they still seek the 'proof' over the ball tampering allegations. However, a final statement was made by ICC chairman Malcolm Speed who exclaimed that the ICC was in full support of Hair and Doctrove, whom both had no other choice but to follow the rules and also announced that Pakistan were to be charged for 'changing the condition of the match ball' (ICC Law 2.10).
A sad day for cricket, but a great one for the media.
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Comment by TonyK
AFL Central
NBL News
The umpires could have handled the situation a lot better i think if they had their time over again
Comment by Anonymous