From: 9063iyerm@vms.csd.mu.edu (Murali Iyer)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.cricket
Subject: TCCB/ICC's attitude towards non-white members
Date: 27 Jul 92 22:50:25 GMT
Article-I.D.: vms.0095E34C.BCFCEE00
Reply-To: 9063iyerm@vms.csd.mu.edu
Organization: Marquette University - Computer Services

In article <1992Jul27.012711.24914@ecst.csuchico.edu>, jawad@ecst.csuchico.edu (Jawad Ali) writes:
>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
                                           ^^^^^^^^^^

Salman, are you sure you put the "*&!^&%^#" in the right place? :--)

>>>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.

When I read these posts, I felt like contributing towards what our
non-subcontinental net-colleagues may label "umpire bashing" or
"chronic-whining-against-host-umpires-by-Indians/Pakistanis-monopolising-rsc". 

Ali Minai has made some valid points, when we look at his post in its entirety.
It is true that English umpires have not descended from heaven, and are as
mortal and vulnerable as any other national umpires. So far so good. 

IMHO, Jawad's point is very precise and clear. I agree with him fully. It is
not against any umpire(s) that we are raising our voices, but against the
attitude shown by respective establishments/boards when such situations arise
in their countries. What is cheating in India/Pakistan is "human errors" in
England/Australia. Yes, Australia also. They were no more sympathetic to the
gentlemanly protests lodged by Azhar and Abbas Ali Baig. In fact, I can well
imagine the frustration and anger that could have raised their heads in touring
cricketers' minds/hearts. I would have been happy if they had atleast admitted
that human frailty could have caused some of the errors, but no acknowledgement
of any sort was forthcoming. Pathetic, I say. How can any English or Australian
team  say anything against umpires from host countries after these fiascos? 

>
>>                     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.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I would like to think that such experiences will only reinforce the 'crusade'. 

>
>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.

Hey! Jawad has already said what I thought was my original thought! :--)

>>                                                              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.

There is already a lot of bombardment of this kind of behaviour by TCCB/ICC in
some English dailies. I read some scathing articles by Woodcock and co in the
London Times, pointing out in clear sentences the hypocrisy of the board in
England. I did write about it sometime ago, I recall. But as pointed out to me,
these "saner" dailies enjoy very little readership, while tabloids are hogged
by millions of "readers". Wiser counsel rarely prevails. 

>And a little digression:

       <digression deleted to make room for my own digression> :--)

I read Doug Walters' book in which he says some really funny things,
exaggerating some incidents a hundred times or more. :--) What I did not find
very funny were his references to Indian umpires' blatant bias for the
homeside. After reading that book, I can understand why some of the common
citizens are more or less convinced that all of us Indians/Pakistanis are
cheats and/or illiterate. I was flabbergasted by his effortless fibbing and
narration of events from his imaginary/fictional viewpoint. Max Walker also has
written some books. Luckily for us he never toured India. If he had, we would
have been treated to some more bu*****t from him too. He has given enough of
that about West Indies. The trouble with these guys is that they sensationalise
their stories so that they can sell more copies. So what's new, huh? 

>I hope this does not start another flame war.

Me too. 

>
>j n a.
-Murali

                               Murali Iyer 

Analyst/Programmer,                                Home  : (414) 288 8766
Marquette University, CSD                          Office: (414) 288 6890
517, N.14th St, Rm 159,                            1343, W Wisconsin, #331,
Milwaukee, WI 53233.                               Milwaukee, WI 53233. 

Newsgroups: rec.sport.cricket