LONDON: Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam came to the defence of paceman Umar Gul on Monday following suggestions of ball-tampering.
New Zealand are understood to have spoken with match officials to clarify that Umar’s record international Twenty20 figures of 5-6 against the Black Caps at the Oval had been achieved legitimately.’ It is disappointing to hear these things,’ said Intikhab. ‘Umar is a fantastic bowler,’ the former Pakistan leg-spinner added.
The matter is now set to be closed after officials told the New Zealand management they had no queries regarding Pakistan’s conduct in the field.
It was at The Oval in 2006 that Pakistan became the first side in history to forfeit a Test match when they refused to take the field after Australian umpire Darrell Hair, supported by his West Indian colleague Billy Doctrove, penalised them five runs for ball-tampering. Intihkab, who played at The Oval for Surrey throughout the 1970s, was adamant Umar’s feat had been achieved by entirely proper means. ‘Not everyone can bowl a reverse ball,’ he said. ‘You’ve got to have a special ability to do that. He’s quick and his action makes a lot of difference.’—AFP
Win gracefully, lose gracefully - it’s a simple principle, and one that matters increasingly
Andrew Hughes
June 16, 2009
As Daniel Vettori has recently discovered, getting your ass whipped can be a painful experience. But that doesn’t mean you should air your unsightly soreness in public. In the bitterness of defeat as in the rush of victory, a skipper can, if he wants, react like any person in the street. Or he can choose to conduct himself like a captain of his country. Win gracefully; lose gracefully. It is a simple principle, and in these days of fist-pumping, verbal abuse and winner grabs all, it is the only boundary rope separating cricket from being just a rather expensive squabble over a ball.
Re: NZ joins the Sore Losers Camp/ Stop embarrassing us - Younis
coolbreeze what do you expect YK to do? Just sit and act like a little dummy captain?
Hell no, what would Vettori, Ponting, Graeme Smith do if Younis Khan accused them of this? Younis would be ripped to pieces in BBC, garbage South African papers etc.
I wanted Younis Khan to say more. But it's good he brought up that why this only happens in England. Wait till South Africa racist SOB's loose next match. Can't wait to see who they blame. Maybe Afridi using sweat from his beard on the ball to make it go so fast.
I think Coolbreeze was responding to Younus’s post (NZ) match comments where he said something about the ball getting roughed up when it hits the boundary walls etc.
His subsequent remarks explaining his and Gul’s position a bit better came after the Irish game
