Stewart also should be taken to task (27 January 1999)

27 January 1999

Stewart also should be taken to task

Ivan Corea

Certain members of the British cricketing media are baying for Arjuna Ranatunga's blood as a result of the friction on and off the pitch during the controversial match against England. Mr. Michael Henderson of the Thunderer, the London Times proclaimed that Ranatunga deserves censure. Others were more sympathetic and supportive, Mark Nicholas of the Daily Telegraph was one of them. How many more times must a man be tried asked Nicholas writing about Muralitharan.

However, it certainly looks like there is one rule for Arjuna Ranatunga and another for the England captain, Alex Stewart. This is the cancer that eats into the very heart of the ICC where countries like England and Australia can do anything they like and get away with it. It appears that the only sinner is Arjuna Ranatunga. Alex Stewart has once again got off the hook thanks to the South african referee.

Stewart's behaviour particularly against Sri Lanka has been a catalogue of rude, arrogant attitudes ... in 1993 when Sri Lanka won the test match against England in Colombo it was Alex stewart who whipped up the hysteria about Muttiah Muralitharan and reinforced the persecution campaign against a world class gifted off-spinner. The whingeing captain did everything he could to get the ICC to ban Muralitharan. During the Emirates tournament, Sri Lankans will never forget Stewart's diabolical behaviour - he was far from being a sportsman. He called Hashan Tillekeratne an 'asshole' and bumped into another player. There again the England captain was never even reprimanded.

And now we come to the disaster in Australia. The England captain indulges in sledging and insults the Sri Lankan captain. His arrogant remarks were heard all over the world as the microphone on the stumps picked up Stewart's sledging and insults hurled against Arjuna Ranatunga. He then shoulders Roshan Mahanama. Why does the South African umpire let him off? While Arjuna Ranatunga is threatened with suspension, fire and damnation from the ICC. If you are English or Australian you are on a good wicket, this colonial mentality must stop. We are living in the real world ... it is an inter-dependent world where racism has no place. The behaviour of the Australian hooligans who have booed Ranatunga and Muralitharan, all this is utterly disgusting. Their behaviour is akin to football hooliganism in the west. How long can Sri Lanka keep their cool. We are talking about an off spinner who has taken 200 test wickets and bowled everywhere. But Muralitharan comes from the Third World, so he has become a whipping boy for England and Australia. If Murali played for England you would not be having any fuss at all. Take the example of Alex stewart's behaviour. That is acceptable to the ICC.

It is time that the ICC opened its eyes. The incompetence of the Australian umpire Emerson was staggering. This is also acceptable. Countries like Sri Lanka will no longer be docile Asians in a colonial world. Gone are the days of the Empire. The ICC must now take action. They must have one rule for everyone. The London Evening Standard wrote that Stewart refuses to back down. The man knows he can get away with it.

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