Pakistan batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq was fined half of his match fee and banned for two one-day internationals for dissent during the triangular series final against Australia at Lord’s on Saturday.
The punishment, imposed by match referee Brian Hastings of New Zealand, was announced by an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) spokesman after Australia won the final by nine wickets.
Inzamam was penalised after lingering at the crease when he was given out lbw for 23 to leg-spinner Shane Warne.
The fine and ban follows two similar offences in April 1998 and May last year.
Australia won Saturday’s tournament final by nine wickets.
What do the members think, I personally feel that banning him is taking things bit too far. Why are umpires treated like Gods? Why is there no punishment for poor umpiring decisions? Why should the players be the only one to suffer?
‘Hate your enemy mildly; he may become your friend one day’ - Hadith
‘as for those who are slain in the cause of allah, he will not allow their work to perish … he will admit them to the paradise he has made known to them’ - Surah 47:7
I might be wrong but I have seen it so many occasions that Inzi has been given out wrongly. Remember the '99 world cup final. And also in all the recent series. It has happened a lot, and especially in crunch matches, decision definitely goes against him.
No wonder he has been showing dissent now for sometime when a blatantly wrong decision is given against him. Whatelse can he do?
That's right Amjad, the replays showed that Inzimam was not out and the umpire was wrong. That said the umpire's decision is final and they don't make these mistakes deliberately, so players should accept it.
What Inzimam did, not only lingering at the crease but walking back to the pavilion very slowly kind of put the umpire on the spot. That would particularly have done him no favours with the referee.
That said, I was watching the game and Inzimam did not linger on the crease too long, only a few seconds actually.
And since there is no law against walking back slowly, although it didn't endear him to the referee but he certainly did nothing wrong there. You can't fault a batsman for being un-happy with a bad decision. So the decision to ban him I think was too harsh. The fine they imposed on him should have been enough.
I think Inzimam has been treated unfairly.
[This message has been edited by Ahmed (edited June 24, 2001).]