While I do have some sympathy for Pakistan, staging a sit-in was not the right way to register their protest.
They clearly feel most aggrieved at having been found guilty of ball-tampering without being able to defend themselves.
But a better, more sensible approach would surely have been to issue a strong denial at tea-time, in which they also promised to appeal, and get on with the game.
There is a tried and tested system for appealing to the match referee in these circumstances, and this takes place at the close of play.
Instead, what they tried to do was effectively blackmail the officials into overturning the umpires' decision. This could have set a very dangerous precedent.
But my sympathy for their situation is founded on the implementation of the law which leaves a team in Pakistan's position with no opportunity immediately to defend itself against an allegation of cheating.
The penalty is imposed by the on-field umpires, and as long as they are as sure as they can be that the ball has been tampered with, they can act without any consultation with the captain of the fielding team.
Ball-tampering is notoriously difficult to prove.
In this case, there is no evidence from television cameras to support the umpires, and it is very hard to tell the difference between an innocent scuff mark, or deliberate skulduggery.
However, the umpires are trained to detect the difference where possible, and Pakistan's claim that the ball had been damaged by being hit to the boundary - and for six - is not entirely credible. The ball in question had not been hit for four during the previous three overs, and was never hit for six.
Jonathan Agnew column
God, let this be the end of this pig infidel and everyone around him who supported this leech’s decision to no end. This bigot has booked himself a one-way ticket straight to hell. DEATH TO HIM, DEATH TO HIM!
This is clearly a case of double standards. Tell me, why the ICC has utterly and profusely refused to even ask this pig’s opinion on the actual issue? He has not seen anything apart from standing inches away from Asif who was witnessed by the millions as just shining the ball and nothing else. This is an extreme case of double standards.
How did they reach to the conclusion that Inzamam tempered with the ball? HOW? I WANT TO KNOW RIGHT NOW, HOW DID THEY REACH TO THIS CONCLUSION?
Nonstop Nonsense!!! If the rubbish called ICC takes ANY action against Inzi, than PCB MUST end the tour and relinquish ICC membership then and there!!! It's time to go to the extreme or they will kill us like anything.
As i said before, if Inzi gets a ban, the whole team should protest and we should pull out of all future tournaments including the WC.
The fat bastad refused to answer any of Inzi's questions and acted like a scum who just wanted to humiliate Pakistan, Inzi did not do anything wrong and if he is held responsible then we should simply CANCEL all upcoming tours. As much as i wanna see Pakistan team play, i can't really watch our players play with this sort of guilt.
Why doesnt this &^@#$&@# PCB and its inarticulate management hand it over to Imran Khan to deal with the ICC rather than incoherently mumbling in their typical way!!
Doesnt matter what happens. Inzi should know that all cricketing fans (all Pakistanis atleast) are on his side, and only a handful of arrogant ICC pricks on the other side.
Doesnt matter what the courts say, you cannot deny the truth.
I hope when the hearing his heard in front of the ICC match referee, Inzmam is accompanied by the right people so that he can put across his side properly and explain the facts.
He may say something which he didn't mean to say or is interpreted differently than the ICC clowns can use it for their own advantage and defend their actions. I hope you understand what I mean.
I wonder if pulling out of all tours is a sensible thing....... Its very appaling what that man has continuously done but dont forget international cricket brings lot of money to pakistan cricket which not only supports the national team but also thousands who paly in the domestic circuit. There are channels available and yes i agree the are not very just and straighforward means of getting justice but we have to be a little prudent in our approach and exhaust all those channels. Also dont forget that at this time overwhelming public opinion as well as seasoned pros and legends like Botham,Fraser,Atherton and Hussain plus media is on our side. So without villianising ourselves we must ride this wave of support to achieve our objective.
Inzi can simply say prove the ball was tampered with which they simply cannot prove without TV evidence (there is none) otherwise its mere heresay and a presumption that the ball ‘looked’ tampered with.
Its unlikely the arrogant Hair will ever change his stance or apologise. Ba$tard.
I strongly feel that Pakistan should hire a reputable lawyer who should accompany Inzi to the hearing and also ask some searching questions of the ICC.
AND THEN SUE for the charges and emotional distress and the racist pig hair and ICC as well for having racist ****heads on the umpire panel as well as lousy rules.
This is a good idea and it will indicate how serious the Pakistan team is taking this matter. However, will they allow lawyers to attend the hearing, may be it will only be the parties concerned and the puppet ICC match referee.
It's the same fking ICC who penalizes bowler for celebrating clear caught behind without waiting for umpire's finger, in the name of the 'spirit of the game." and maintaining 'umpire's authority'.
It's about time someone took a stand and showed that the prestige of umpires is noT and shoudl NOT be greater than the prestige of the players and the teams. Not only Hair has been consistently unfair in his decisions, his heavy handed approach and arrogant manner needs to be publicly rebuked, just like team captains are penalized for 'behavior' not meeting the spirit of the game.
The umpires are there to serve cricket, and not vice versa. Read the articles nywhere, everybody admits that Hair's approach and mannerism has been unfair, regardless of decisions and mistakes. It's about time ICC acted consistently and applied the same stndards to umpires that it has been towards players.
If such stern action is taken against Inzimam (8 test matches ban is equivalent of ending his career as he won't be playing many more after the world cup anyway), I am prepared to back Pakistan for pulling out of any and all tournaments.
They said this might be the biggest controversy since bodyline, LET'S MAKE IT SO!
Are you freaking kidding me...This is bigotry to extremes....Pakistan should just ask for one thing...
NO DARELL HAIR IN PAKISTANI MATCHES FROM NOW ON...
Get this PIG off their shoulders forever...
and where the hell is Darell Hair? Why haven't we heard from him yet? In usual circumstances umpires provide an explanation of their actions. The arrogant prick didn't even bother to come up with a public statement even after 24 hours.
