Bad show, Akram Khan! (16 January 1999)

16 January 1999

Bad show, Akram Khan!

Our Sports Reporter

Akram Khan may have been the captain of the national team. He may have elevated himself to cloud seven for leading Bangladesh to the ICC triumph in 1997. But, yesterday, at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, he carried himself to the gutter and cricket was the ultimate loser.

In the 65th over of Abahani's innings, Akram complained to the umpire that Biman's Saleh Ahmed, left-arm spinner round the wicket, was in his 'elaborate' follow-through getting in his way. The burly batsman was apparently being obstructed while trying to take off from the runner's end. At one stage, an incensed Akram, his arms flying everywhere, in the most unbecoming of ways, took the trouble of miming Sohel's run-up, delivery and follow-through to impress upon Sri Lankan umpire Philip Mendis his point. That action itself was enough to warrant punitive action against the former national skipper.

As if that was not enough, as Saleh prepared to bowl the second last ball of his over to Neeyamur Rashid, Akram threw his gloves and dumped his bat at his end, and, believe it or not, marched in a visibly agitated state to the boundary line shouting, "Who is the match referee? I want to talk to him".

Abahani officials, led by BCB member Jalal Yunus, came on to the ground to meet Akram. Simultaneously, a section of Abahani supporters threw bricks and other missiles on to the ground. The umpires picked up the bails and approached the pavilion. But, they were abused, physically and verbally, by unruly Abahani officials and fans. Among others, Shah Alam, known as Professor Shah Alam, and one Tara were seen trying to punch the umpires. Had Biman cricketer Ahmed Faiyaz Shaheen not intervened, the punches could have hit the umpires. The Abahani crowd, fanned by the unacceptable behaviour of some of the Abahani officials, continued with the brick-batting. One missile - a coconut - hit umpire Mendis on the face. The two umpires, shaken as they were, then managed to somehow run to the pavilion with the help of some sensible Abahani officials, who formed a cordon around them.

The Abahani officials were then seen attacking Shaheen and other Biman players.

Abahani cricket chairman Mustafa Kamal MP, who was at the stadium, said, "This is a very sad incident for cricket. The officials, who attacked the umpires, are (Abahani) football officials. I do not know how they entered the ground. In future this will not happen".

Mahmud Ul Haque Manu, Secretary, Cricket Committee of Metropolitan Dhaka (CCDM), has condemned the incident in the strongest of words and said, "No one will be spared".

When talking to Akram after the innings, the tired Abahani skipper said that he left the ground with an intention to talk to the match referee because the Sri Lankan umpire was not listening to him.

"I tried in many ways to make him (umpire) understand about what Saleh Ahmed was doing. But instead of heeding, he asked me to keep quiet and not to talk 'stupid'. That struck my mind. I decided to talk to the match referee on that," said Akram.

When asked whether he could have very well done his complaining to the match referee during the tea break, Akram appeared to regret his deed.

The Sri Lankan umpire Mendis declined to comment on the incident and said that he would file his comments in the match report.

It may be mentioned that Akram Khan was in trouble with a Pakistani and a Canadian umpire at the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games in the match against Ireland. The match referee, New Zealand's John Reid, had recommended that Akram be suspended for three international matches. A letter to that effect was prepared to be faxed to the ICC. Timely action and pleading by team manager Tanveer Haider and other team members saved Akram the axe and Bangladesh the ignominy of international censure.

We have seen many worse umpiring in slow-motion television but never, never has a cricketer flung down his gear and looked for the match referee. In case Akram is not aware, it is the referee's duty to look at him and not vice versa. Whatever grievances Akram may have had, there is a specified manner in which he could apply to the match referee, the tournament committee, the board, the ICC ... Akram's method is definitely not recommended. His action can only tell poorly on the future generation of cricketers.

At a time when Bangladesh is vying to become the tenth test team, Akram's transgression can only frustrate Saber and company's tireless efforts to project the cause of Bangladesh cricket. And, mind you, the ICC keeps an eye on everything, particularly domestic cricket.

Source :: The Bangladesh Daily Star (https://www.dailystarnews.com)