Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com
Once again a mockery has been made of cricket before the eyes of the world. It is puzzling why a sport that has made such great strides in building its professional image continues to allow a fundamental aspect of its existence become so problematic.
Most people watching the Pakistan bowler Shabbir Ahmed during the current Test series against the West Indies must have been wondering what they were witnessing as the lanky fast bowler hurled down one delivery after another with an exaggerated bend in his elbow.
Television viewers would have had an even more shocking view from various angles and at differing speeds. All would have told the same story but the farce has been allowed to continue because the governing body for cricket, in the spirit of compromise, has made a fairly straightforward matter quite complex.
For the third time in his career Shabbir’s action has been brought to the attention of the ICC. On the two previous occasions, the first in his debut One Day International against The West Indies, Shabbir supposedly received remedial help and returned to the international scene. After returning from his first mishap, Shabbir’s action again came under scrutiny against New Zealand.
On the clear evidence of these two Tests, his problems are far from over. He was reported by the match officials after the first Test in Barbados but under the ICC regulations he can still continue to bowl, pardon me, throw.
It is amazing he was ever picked to represent Pakistan when it should have been clear his action was not clean but we have already seen in the Caribbean how authorities can turn a blind eye to the obvious when it suits them.
Several years ago when the alarm was raised by journalists and other knowledgeable observers about the action of Jermaine Lawson, those in the position to deal with it chose to ignore the problem. It then took a seven wicket haul against world champions Australia for the matter to be brought to light. Lawson was reported, received remedial help and returned to international cricket.
Hopefully Shabbir’s problem can be corrected, though after two previous attempts I am inclined to doubt it. What is of more immediate concern to me is the charade such episodes make of cricket. It is the only sport I can think of in which it seems acceptable to teach a basic skill of the sport to an international player.
The procedure for dealing with bowlers with a suspect action is unnecessarily complicated and represents a misuse of technology. The fact that Pakistan continues to select Shabbir despite his obvious problem and the fact that he has again been reported suggest to me the lengths to which some teams will go to gain an advantage.
There is big money in cricket and the notion of a gentleman’s game seems not to be a reality any longer. It means the ICC must act forcefully to fix the contentious aspects of the sport, none more poignant than the issue of throwing.
I suggest the matter be placed back in the hands of umpires and countries left to do their own remedial work, We certainly would not expect the International Athletic Federation or the International Olympic Committee to organise sessions to teach an Olympic shot putter the rudiments of his craft.
Certainly the International Table Tennis Federation would not waste valuable time teaching a seasoned professional how to perform a legal serve. That’s the job of the primary school or youth league coach as it should be in cricket.
It is unfair for players blatantly flouting the law to have a continued impact on results of matches while administrators dance around the issue.
I believe the umpires on the field, with assistance from the third umpire should be instructed to call no-ball if, in their opinion, a bowler is throwing. As professionals, bowlers who are called often enough should know what they need do to seek help.
If they so desire, the ICC can still examine the action of offending players using their current system but if the umpires are also called upon to take responsibility during actual play cricketers who earn their living within the boundaries of the law, will be protected.
The accommodating procedure currently being used will encourage more offending bowlers as umpires at lower levels will refrain from calling transgressors and more will seep into the system. Then spectators, television viewers and cricketers will continue to be subjected to the type of sham manifested at Kensington and Sabina over the past few weeks.
Philip Hackett is a freelance sports journalist who has covered international cricket matches for the Nation Newspaper in Barbados as well as the CMC (formerly CANA). Hackett is also a well-respected cricket radio commentator who has covered Test matches for the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation as well as numerous regional first class matches. He has also provided print media and electronic media coverage of table tennis throughout the region. Hackett is a physical education teacher and has worked in Bermuda, Barbados and now the Cayman Islands. He is a qualified international table tennis coach, having received his training in Hungary and a Level one cricket coach. Hackett holds a Masters degree in education from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.
Previous Page Print This Page.
Copyright© 2007 Caribbean Net News at www.caribbeannetnews.com All Rights Reserved
License is granted for free print and distribution.
