Sinister motives Down Under? (19 January 1999)

19 January 1999

Sinister motives Down Under?

Sa'adi Thawfeeq

Should the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) take the remarks made by International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive David Richards on the conduct of match referee Peter van der Merwe lying down?

Or should the BCCSL call for disciplinary action (like they did against Australian umpire Darrel Hair) on van der Merwe for his action, based of course, on investigations?

Van der Merwe, the former South African captain, who is match referee for the Carlton and United World Series Cup, is alleged to have given an interview to the Australian media that he had received complaints on the bowling action of Muthiah Muralitharan from the umpires who officiated in Sri Lanka's matches against England and Australia.

When this matter was brought to the attention of the BCCSL they complained to Richards, who responded by issuing a statement saying that there was no report made by the match referee or the umpires on Muralitharan.

In his press release from Australia, Richards states: "Public comment about any players' action by an umpire or referee is not consistent with the confidential nature of the ICC Panel process," and simply dismisses van der Merwe's action by saying "Mr. van der Merwe will be making no further public comment on this matter during or after the tour".

Coincidentally, one of the names that has constantly cropped up whenever allegations have been levelled at Muralitharan is that of Bob Simpson, the former Australian captain.

Simpson was Australian coach when Muralitharan was first called for throwing on the tour of Australia in 1995-96. Simpson subsequently lost his job shortly afterwards when Australia were beaten in the World Cup final by Sri Lanka.

Simpson was on song again when, as ICC match referee for Sri Lanka's Test series in India in December 1997, he reported Muralitharan of having a suspect action. On this instance, according to BCCSL chief executive Dammika Ranatunga, the nine-member advisory ICC panel on illegal deliveries headed by cricket committee chairman Sir Clyde Walcott, viewed video footage of Muralitharan's bowling action in the relevant series and unanimously agreed that his action was fair.

Simpson today is Australia's representative in the ICC advisory panel on illegal deliveries.

Whatever the motives, there is a sinister hand behind trying to belittle a champion off-spinner who is only trying to perform his skills like any other cricketer.

Like respected cricket columnist Peter Roebuck says Muralitharan has not tried to achieve fame and ambition by resorting to bribery, taken performance enhancing drugs or claimed a catch on the bounce to be subjected to such acrimony.

So what is the crime that Muralitharan has committed against Australia for their press, public and officials to be so uncharitable towards him?

Are they smarting over the fact that their number one umpire Darrel Hair may not be able to officiate in the forthcoming World Cup if he is reprimanded for violating the ICC Code of Conduct?

Australia has already lost one of their top umpires Steve Randall, who is facing charges of sexual assault.

While from some quarters there is a hue and cry that spin bowling is in decline, there are others it seems who are trying to extinguish the handful of spinners who are in existence.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)