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Pak to abandon
tour if Inzy gets penalised for ball-tampering |
August 23, 2006
 Pakistan’s
Skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq, the first Test Captain
in the history of the game to forfeit a match
will face an ICC Code of Conduct hearing on
Friday regarding two issues. The first charge
against Inzamam is a big one that of bringing
the game into disrepute by refusing to get his
side onto the ground for fielding during the
post tea session of The Oval Test. The second
charge levied on him is ball-tampering. If
Inzamam is found guilty, then he will be banned
for eight ODIs or four Tests. The ICC has
appointed former Sri Lankan Test Batsman and
International Match Referee – Ranjan Madugalle
for conducting the hearing on this case on
Friday in London. The Pakistan team has already
expressed its unwillingness to continue the
ongoing English tour if Inzamam does get the
ban, which is believed that he would get.
However, Inzamam would be allowed to appeal
against the decision if found guilty within 24
hours and he can continue to play International
Cricket until the outcome of the appeal comes
out.
The ICC has already extended its full support to
the onfield Umpires Darrell Hair and Billy
Doctrove in their decisions during the
controversial fourth day’s play. The Pakistan
Cricket Board has been backing its players in
this case and stands firm on their appeal to
prevent Darrell Hair from officiating any
matches involving Pakistan in the future. The
Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf and many
former Cricketers have praised Inzamam’s
decision of refusing to play after being put
under the cloud of being cheats. According to
Inzy, playing the game is much more than just
winning or losing and he had put his country’s
pride infront of a solitary Test Match win. He
has already issued a warning to the ICC that if
he is not cleared of the ball-tampering charge
then it leaves no option but to pack the bags
and head back to Pakistan leaving the upcoming
Twenty20 International and the following 5-One
Day Internationals Series in jeopardy. The ECB
will be losing an estimated 19 million US
Dollars if Pakistan does not take any further
part on their tour.
As far as the ball-tampering case is concerned,
there was no television capture of any Pakistan
fielder changing the condition of the ball
deliberately. Sky Sports, the TV Broadcaster of
the Series had 26 cameras installed at various
angles but hasn’t been able to capture any wrong
doing from any Pakistani player. The Pakistan
Cricket Board has insisted that there were
hardly one or two insignificant scuff marks
which might have been caused by the impact of
the ball hitting the hard advertising hoardings
outside the boundaries. Friday will be one tough
day for the ICC as the outcome of the
disciplinary hearing would be critical in
deciding the future of the One Day Series.
Pakistan do not mind if Inzy is found guilty of
bringing the game in disrepute but it will raise
serious objections if the hearing from Madugalle
finds Inzamam guilty of the ball-tampering
charge.
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