THE INDISCIPLINED INDIANS & THE MIGHTY BLACKS- 1989-Sunday News

Our local cricket enthusiasts familiar with international cricket standards do not need the spectacle of Indian cricketers as yardstick to gauge how local cricket compares with test cricket. We are fully aware of our cricketing limitations. I am referring to Paul Armstrong’s write up on ‘Indian Stars Tour Boost To Local Cricketers’ which was quite thought provoking and made an interesting reading as far as its later part was concerned but his glorification of the Indian cricketers and making our cricket authorities the subject of laudatory does not receive the consensus of the local cricket loving public.

No matter the excitement prevailing during the tour of overseas cricketers, there is also an equivalent of Murphy’s law that operates. The cricket can be fun but there may be an incident that will batch up and overshadow the main game. The tour then sours and the happy event forgotten. Such was the case with the recent tour of the so called Indian superstars.

Kapil Dev’s mannerism left much to be desired. His removal of shoes while fielding, his unruly behaviour with the umpires and his instantaneous departure for Nairobi in the course of the game creates not only bad impression upon our cricketers but blots an everlasting impact upon us all. Kapil hardly bowled any overs and another star bowler, Roger Binny, emulating his skipper did not bowl at all. Such boorish acts are disgraceful and disheartening. Indeed the opinion of the local public has been greatly shaken.

In the past East Africa has had visits from great cricketing personalities like Freddie Brown, Abdulhafiz Kardar, Hanif Mohamed, Mushtaq Ali, Jasu Patel, Ted Dexter, Mike Smith, Wes Hall, Nawab of Pataudi and many more but none indulged in ridiculing gimmics as the current Indian visitors did. Such behaviour reflects badly on India itself.

If cricket is a gentleman’s game, the participating players have definitely to behave like gentlemen. Perhaps the fault is with us media who glorify such cricketers to the level of superstars and semi gods.

It was not all that fun to see Dilip Vengsarkar playing lefthanded. Perhaps the Indian themselves were subjected to such mock by the West Indians who have often displayed their brilliance to them. The Indian bowlers bowled lollie pops tempting and ridiculing our batsmen. Interestingly an Indian expatriate’s tot sitting by my side innocently questioned his papa if such a delivery was to be bowled to Viv Richards. Before the papa could reply him I poked my nose saying “double six.” Poor papa gave me an embarrassing look.

The West Indians despite their fallen standards thrashed the Indians seven one in the one day games and drew the test series away in India. It is this discussion on the might of the West Indies that makes Armstrong’s feature worth pondering. Have the mighty really fallen? Undoubtedly Pakistan at the moment is one of the finest sides in the world but they were beaten hollow five nil in the one day games and managed only a draw in the test series against West Indies. The Pakistan players and officials blame the West Indian umpiring for denying them victory.

What an irony! It is the Pakistanis who are notorious for their umpiring and have set some very bad examples. Twenty five years ago Sir Gary Sobers almost packed his bags vowing not to return to Pakistan after the great man was adjudged lbw thrice for nought. The English bowler Tony Lock in disgust poured a bucket of water over their umpire Idris Baig while the flamboyant Ian Botham  swore not to send even his mother in law to that part of the world.

The recent row between their umpire Shakoor Rana and English skipper Mike Gatting was blown no end. David Frith, the editor of Wisden revealed with all sarcasm the following in one of his editorials:-

“During Shakoor Rana’s first test as umpire, he and his colleague gave 7 batsmen out lbw in the drawn 1975 test against West Indies at Lahore. One of the West Indians smashed his bat in exasperation after the dressing room door had been shut behind him.

“On the third evening shakoor Rana turned to a co passenger in the BCCP car as it headed back to the hotel and asked what was the world test record for lbws. It was an urgent, heartfelt request for information, and it amused the co-passenger, who was unable to answer the question. Now some years on, the matter is well beyond a joke. The source of this anecdote? I, dear readers, was that co-passenger.”