From: jawad@ecst.csuchico.edu (Jawad Ali)
Subject: Re: England 2nd Innings
Organization: California State University, Chico
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 01:27:11 GMT

In article <1992Jul26.224107.28574@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> aam9n@helga6.acc.Virginia.EDU (Ali Ahmad Minai) writes:
>In article <712179368@lear.cs.duke.edu> azhar@duke.cs.duke.edu (D. Salman [Quintessential] Azhar) writes:
>>
>>	   The funny thing is that when English umpires make such
>>decisions they are mistakes, and when a *&!^&%^# colored umpire does
>>it is dishonesty. Racism never fails to amaze me.
>>
>
>I don't think it is racism, really, but it has become increasingly clear
>to the rest of the world that English umpires are every bit as ordinary as
>those of any other nationality.

This seems to be a point that is frequently misunderstood at this forum.
The complaint is not against English umpiring, but against the duplicity
with which such matters are handled.  The standard of English umpiring
has nothing to do with racism, but the one sided complaints of cheating
do have something to do with colonial and racist attitudes.

>                     For every Shakoor Rana, there is a Roy
>Palmer. And while Dicky Bird has been the best of umpires in recent years,
>David Constant has surely been close to the worst. Pakistan did not lose
>this match because of umpiring, but I can see us abandoning the whole
>crusade for neutral umpires based on a few experiences like this.

Perhaps we are seeing this 'crusade' in very different ways. The call
for third country umpires was born out of, and has always been fueled
by, incidences such as these.  If we did not believe that English umpiring
was like any other, then the arguments presented by the English establishment
would actually carry some water.

>                                                              I hope
>we don't. The temptation to get back at the "damned Pommies" must be
>countered with principles higher than those shown by the pathetic English
>cricket establishment.

Once again, Ali, what exactly is it that makes the English cricket
establishment pathetic?  Is it possible that a misplaced sense of
superiority is a component of this pathos?  One of the ways that
we can counter with higher principles, is to point out this sort of
racism, no matter who indulges in it.

And a little digression:
It was from Shamim that I first heard the allegation that the real
reason behind England's opposition to Zimbabwe's test status
might have been spurned by racial and ethnic concerns.

But then I read the same thing in London Times, this time without
comment -- almost as if were business as usual.  There is something
very ugly at the heart of ICC, or the Times, depending on which side
you believe.

Aside from the blatant racism, another point that was ignored by the
Times is that Zimbabwe is still a predominantly white team.  I assume
that the same may be true for their governing bodies and the cricket
playing public (inside scoop anyone?).  In all fairness, one thing that
we cannot blame the English cricket establishment is short-sightedness.
In today's world one has to plan well in advance if one is planning
to keep the natives from getting restless. :-) :-)

I hope this does not start another flame war.

j n a.

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