Swinging drives: Shoaib is back with a bang

The ban on Shoaib Akhtar has been lifted. Actually it is a reprieve but it does allow him to play in the Carlton United triangular. Much credit must go to Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia, the Chairman of the PCB and to Jagmohan Dalmya.

In the end not only was justice done but common sense prevailed. The PCB displayed a commendable firmness and at the same time persevered and to get the Chairman of the ICC to intervene was an inspired move and despite the fact that there were so many road-blocks, the PCB Chairman cut through the red tape and, in turn, Dalmya responded. But it is obvious that the ban on Shoaib Akhtar shocked the cricket world for being hasty, arbitrary and possibly unlawful since the evidence on which the ban was based was flawed.

Shoaib's arrival at the Gabba, half an hour after the match had started could have been scripted, the stuff of a B-grade movie. He flew in from Perth, a journey of about five hours, he was received by a battery of television cameras, he spoke to the reporters and I thought he had handled himself with great dignity. He thanked the PCB for the backing it had given him but he also thanked the Australian public and media for their support. When he came on to bowl, the ovation that 37,000 cricket fans that were present at the Gabba was so heart warming that it even brought a lump to my throat. I am surprised that Shoaib Akhtar did not break into tears. It was a wonderful gesture but more than that it sent a strong message to the administrators of the game.

The cricket public want to see the best players in the game, they don't want to see injustice being done through bureaucratic negativism, through a petty interpretation of the fine-print of the rules. Top cricketers, past and present rallied behind Shoaib Akhtar and I cannot think of any one of consequence who approved of the way the ICC had gone about banning him. Clearly the ICC, through its committee of illegal deliveries has all but come out with egg on its face.

The PCB has disowned the statement made by Shafqat Rana, the Secretary, that the ban had been racially inspired or motivated. But there is no doubt that his statement touched a raw nerve. Obviously no one is going to accept accusations of racism. Even the Klu Klux Klan in the United States stoutly denies that it is racist. But racism is a fact of life and I am convinced that the ICC would not have rushed to judgement had it been presented with a highly selective video footage of Bret Lee's bowling action, for example. It would have looked at it carefully, would have deliberated on it and then come to the conclusion, rightly, that the evidence was inconclusive and the benefit of the doubt, therefore, goes to the bowler, with instructions to the umpires to keep a close eye on him. This should have been done in the case of Shoaib Akhtar. It wasn't. A ban was slapped on him. What other conclusion can we arrive at?

What the ICC did not realise was that it was opening a Pandora's Box. If Shoaib Akhtar chucks, so too do many other bowlers who have so far escaped scrutiny. Shoaib Akhtar became a high profile bowler when he went to England for the World Cup. The crowds took to him and he became an instant super-star. Had he been just another tear-away fast bowler who got clobbered all over the park, no one would have taken the slightest notice of him. Shoaib Akhtar was punished because he had become a celebrity and an explosive fast bowler who would make an impact on the game. Unfortunately for him, he came from the wrong side of the racial divide. He was not white but brown lightning!

If there is any doubt about the bouncer he bowls, Shoaib Akhtar should correct it. But the rule itself about illegal deliveries needs to be examined afresh. It should be done with a view to removing any ambiguity. Secondly no action should be taken against a bowler unless he has actually been no-balled by an umpire for chucking. The primary responsibility is that of the umpires. Ironically, Shoaib Akhtar was never called by any umpire. Just some video footage was obtained and that too surreptitiously and passed on to the ICC. The match-referee had an obligation to have a talk with the Pakistan team manager and coach and express his doubts. Where was the need for all this cloak and dagger stuff? It is this that is resented as much as the ban. Everything should have been done in the open, in broad daylight.

Finally a word about Shoaib Akhtar, Part of his appeal is that he is a showman. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. He connects with the cricket public and they love him because he is a great entertainer. But he has also shown himself to be a mentally tough character. He gave not the slightest indication that he had gone through a traumatic time. He showed no bitterness, his body-language was positive and when he ran into bowl to the great roar of an approving public, he seemed to put everything behind him. A word of caution to him: don't let the cricket public down. Go ahead and be the great bowler that we all think you are destined to be.