Racial overtones in scandal
By Fakir Hassen
ALLEGATIONS of racism have crept in about actions taken so far by the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCB) against players involved in the King Commission of Inquiry into cricket match-fixing.

Breaking rules with impunity
 by K.R. Wadhwaney
LAW-MAKERS and rules implementers have turned hostile. They have assumed the role of law-breakers. This is the sordid situation obtaining the country’s prestigious Delhi Golf Club (DGC), which is passing through turbulations and turmoil because of the gross wrongdoings by senior incumbents.

Man who shaped Lankan cricket
By Gopal Sharma

AN era came to an end when former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga bid adieu after the final Test of the just-concluded home series against South Africa which ended with honours of both sides intact (1-1). A downcast Ranatunga, barely able to hold back tears left the stadium for the last time as a player, headed straight to his parents and touched their feet.

To state that 36-year-old Ranatunga’s contribution to Sri Lanka cricket is incalculable is acknowledging the obvious. “Arjuna’s contribution to the game of cricket is inestimable,” stated Sri Lanka Cricket Board President Thilanga Sumathipala after the match, adding: “His Test and one-day achievements are now a fundamental part of Sri Lanka’s proud cricket history.”

Ranatunga was like a colossus in Sri Lankan cricket. He is the only player in the history of the game to have played in the inaugural as well as the 100th Test matches of the country. Ranatunga made his Test debut as an 18-year-old schoolboy when he was selected to play in the Colombo Test against England in February 1982. There was no looking back since then as he grew from strength to strength and carved out a niche for himself as a dependable middle-order batsman.

Sri Lanka, under his stewardship surely and steadily continued to gain credence and confidence and finally emerged as one of the most formidable competitive outfits in the abridged version of the game. His crowning moment came when Sri Lanka players displaying true grit and determination, scripted a golden chapter by lifting the 1996 World Cup defeating arch rivals Australia in the final. Sri Lankans went delirious with joy and hailed Ranatunga and Co as true heroes who did the country proud. It was a carnival-like atmosphere in Sri Lanka and the players were showered with lavish gifts. Sri Lanka not only emerged worth champions but won kudos for the bold and innovative style of batting they adopted in one-day cricket. Ranatunga came to be recognised as the most charismatic leader.

The sight of the portly Ranatunga sporting a panama hat and heading towards the batting crease in a seemingly lethargic manner might not have enthused an average cricket fan. But once he took guard the southpaw looked a carefree batsman, amassing runs by rotating the strike at will and never hesitating to play his trademark strokes. The sight of Ranatunga virtually walking across the wicket for a run might not be worth emulating by budding youngsters but the former skipper always had his eyes fixed on the red cherry and knew exactly where it was being fielded. Ranatunga never believed in putting to strain his bulky frame even a bit. Strolling for a single was his way of conserving energy so vital for a long stay at the wicket. But when he was in the field he was as agile as any other player and was never found wanting.

The credit for moulding Sri Lanka into the type of team that it is today must go to Ranatunga, who was like an “elder brother” to the rest of the players. He made them believe that they were a bunch of talented cricketers good enough to take on the best in the business. He not only guided and assisted them but had the guts to stand by them if need be.

Surely, no cricket enthusiast can forget the incident when Ranatunga was decisive and bold enough to get embroiled in a finger-raising row with Australian umpire Roy Emerson in defence of off-spinner Muthiah Muralitharan when he was called for “throwing”. Only Ranatunga could have jeopardised his career in defence of his fellow colleague. International Cricket Council referred the matter to the match referee. But he was lucky to get away with only a six-match suspended ban.

Ranatunga, in fact, will always be remembered as a man of character who cared two hoots for his detractors. No wonder then that he was involved in various verbal spats and brushes with the authorities. He was never afraid to call a spade a spade. It had to be a Ranatunga to state that Australian ace leg-spinner Shane Warne was “overrated” and that the likes of Muralitharan and Anil Kumble were better spin bowlers. This prompted an angry outburst from Warne who retorted: “Frankly, Sri Lanka and the game overall would be better off without him (Ranatunga). Yes, there is plenty of animosity between Ranatunga and myself.” His verbal duel with Warne and the incident involving Emerson made Lanka a hated team in Australia. Ranatunga, on his part, vowed never to return to Australia again. During the team’s historic tour of England he was again involved in a verbal spat with Alec Stewart.

Ranatunga , Aravinda de Silva and several other prominent Lanka players were dropped from the team in the early nineties as the authorities, perhaps rightly, thought that they lacked the standards of physical fitness that the modern game demanded. But the dropped players put up a united front and the authorities had no option but to fall back on them again.

Ranatunga and Lanka-born Australian coach Dave Whatmore reportedly never got along well. Therefore, when the Lankan team made an ignominious exit in the 1999 World Cup and the authorities decided to summon Whatmore again it was expected that Ranatunga’s playing days were almost over.

Ranatunga, as a batsman might not be as awe-inspiring as Sachin Tendulkar, as destructive as Brian Lara, as silken in his drives as Mark Waugh, as stubborn as Mark’s elder sibling Steve Waugh or as classy as fellow team-mate Aravinda de Silva. But he surely made up for all this with exemplary leadership qualities which often lifted the team’s performances at least by a few notches. He somehow seemed to possess the uncanny knack of getting the best out of the resources at his disposal and he commanded respect from the players.

Ranatunga during his long and demanding tenure as skipper hardly ever looked perturbed no matter how grave the situation was.

It was this quality which earned him the sobriquets of “Mr Cool” and “Mr Unflappable”.

Ranatunga was precise when he said after the match: “I arrived at the decision after a great deal of consideration and thought. Amid all trials and tribulations, I enjoyed every minute of playing cricket as long as I could do so with honour and dignity.”

Ranatunga’s tenure as skipper is quite impressive. Sanath Jayasuriya, dashing opener at the helm now, has so far had a mixed bag of success and failure. He cannot afford to be complacent but will always have to be at his toes to guard the enviable legacy left behind by Ranatunga as a skipper.

Racial overtones in scandal
By Fakir Hassen

ALLEGATIONS of racism have crept in about actions taken so far by the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCB) against players involved in the King Commission of Inquiry into cricket match-fixing.

The family of suspended fast bowler Henry Williams, who will face a disciplinary hearing by the UCB following his revelations at the King Commission that his former captain, Hansie Cronje, had offered him money to throw a game, suggested that there were double standards in the actions taken by the UCB and other organisations.

Henry’s mother Katie Williams told the Cape Argus that the episode had hurt everybody. But she said that unfair actions were being implemented. “I read how the Australians had said that they (Williams and his team-mate Herschelle Gibbs, also suspended and facing disciplinary action) should be banned for life, but their players have done the same and it is being swept under the carpet,” she said.

She was also unhappy that other South African players, whose names were mentioned in alleged conversations with bookmakers taped by the Delhi Police, were still playing for the national team while Williams and Gibbs were suspended. “Henry’s name only came out later but it seems that these players were forgotten while the focus shifted on to my son and Herschelle,” she said.

Henry’s father Charles Williams suggested that there was racial discrimination in the punishment meted out to Gibbs and Williams. He said there were other players in the side who were just as guilty but were allowed to play. He asked why only the coloured players were suspended.

Gibbs and Williams were suspended after initially denying to their employers, the UCB, that Cronje had made offers to them. They later admitted at the King Commission that they had accepted the offers, but had reneged while they were playing on the field by not keeping scores low.

Meanwhile, Hansie Cronje is still maintaining a stony silence on the controversy surrounding his reported attempts to make money from books, movies and television programmes about his role in match-fixing.

This is despite a thinly concealed threat by Sports Minister Ngconde Balfour, at the handing over of the King Commission interim report that his indemnity from prosecution had still not been finalised.

Although he did not spell it out specifically, it was clear that Balfour was warning Cronje that any new information that he might provide in his proposed books and television interviews that he has reportedly granted at high prices could hamper his chances of the immunity from prosecution promised to him if he told the whole truth at the King Commission.

Balfour accepted Judge Edwin King’s interim report on match-fixing allegations on behalf of President Thabo Mbeki. The commission was established after the Delhi Police disclosed Cronje’s dealings with bookmakers. It is currently in recess until October 2.

“That may be his prerogative, but he should know that the work of the Commission is not yet finalised,” Balfour said, referring to Cronje’s plans. London-based celebrity publicist Max Clifford announced recently that Cronje had signed him up to negotiate exclusive television interviews to the highest bidders, as well as a book.

Judge King cast further doubt on the indemnity for Cronje when he said that he would not make any findings on whether Cronje had been truthful to the commission thus far, until all the evidence had been heard. He said Cronje, United Cricket Board of South Africa boss Ali Bacher and other witnesses who had already testified at the commission could be recalled when hearings resume.

King confirmed that he had asked for the terms of reference of the commission to be extended so that it could investigate allegations about other cricketing irregularities that emerged since the investigation was started. These included the reported approach made to Cronje by bookmakers during the Mandela Cup game at Newlands in Cape Town in 1994, and during the triangular series with India and Pakistan at Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates earlier this year. — IANS

Teeing-off

Breaking rules with impunity
 by K.R. Wadhwaney

LAW-MAKERS and rules implementers have turned hostile. They have assumed the role of law-breakers. This is the sordid situation obtaining the country’s prestigious Delhi Golf Club (DGC), which is passing through turbulations and turmoil because of the gross wrongdoings by senior incumbents.

The president has allowed an “outsider’ to make use of the club in the mistaken thinking that a non-member, a very influential man, will be able to secure completion certificate for several construction work done at the club. Another senior incumbent has issued a ‘green card” to a person who is not entitled to become a “dependent member’.

Etiquette, decorum and norms are pre-requisites for golf clubs worldwide. Here traditions are far more important than rules and regulations that govern the game. Unquestionably, one of the leading clubs in the country, there is strict control on “dress” that members wear while using the club. How come then an “outsider” has been allowed to make use of the club and offer drinks to members?

The contribution of the President and his friend-associate has been immense in recent years. But should they break age-old traditions of the club?

Akash Lal, a senior member, in a letter to the captain, says”.... I asked the barmen how they were serving ‘spirits’ to a non-member and accepting a computerised voucher signed by him. They replied that the club authorities had ordered them to let the ‘non-member’ use the club whenever he wanted to .... Such an explanation left me aghast and I considered it my duty to inform you and did so immediately. Here was a monstrous case of violation of club rules”.

Akash Lal, who missed playing for the Indian cricket team in the 1960s, has raised a few questions. He asks:

1. “How many times has an ‘outsider ’ been introduced as a guest by the employees at the reception?

2. “How many times a month has he been introduced as a guest by a member since the end of his corporate membership.

3. “... Advise me the names of the member or members to whose account these vouchers were debited”.

Almost all renowned judges, senior bureaucrats and others are members of the club. They continue to wield considerable influence with the powers in the Government. These members have become golf addicts. How is it that the authorities are unable to utilise their services to secure completion certificates? If they are unable to secure certificates, how come an “outsider” can get them regardless of his influence?

There is mixed reaction about the renovation of the change cum-locker room. Many of the members feel that there was no need to incur a very heavy expenditure on the change room since it was considered adequate by the members. A few, who subscribe to the renovation, feel that the time chosen was injudicious. “When it rains, the make-shift room in tent gets flooded causing insurmountable problems to the members.

All members, professionals and amateurs, are mighty pleased with the authorities for re-doing the greens. The area for greens has been widened. What is most satisfying is that the underground drainage system has been improved to such an extent the water gets cleared inside of 10 minutes. “This is the job well done”, all members are unanimous in their observation.

There are about 1000 golf sets lying in the club premises. Many of them are virtually unclaimed. Why can’t the authorities present these sets to needy players and caddies?

Decision on Sahara Cup praiseworthy

THOSE in favour of cricket matches between India and Pakistan forget that national honour is more important then anything else. Pakistan breathes fire against our country at every available forum and loses no opportunity in destablising it. Through the ISI, Pakistan is aiding and sponsoring terrorism, killing innocent persons, exploding bombs at random and smuggling in arms, drugs and fake currency. It is using every ploy to disturb communal harmony. Undoubtedly it shall be a national shame to play cricket matches with that country.

JK MAGO
Panchkula

II

The Indian Government’s blunt ‘no’ to the BCCI to fly the team to Toronto for a friendship series against Pakistan is a wise decision. Of what use is friendship with a neighbour who is always busy in making efforts to destroy our country. It is pathetic that the very existence of most leaders in Pakistan is on the basis of anti-India propaganda.

HS DIMPLE
Jagraon

Decision shocking

The Indian Government’s decision of not sending the Indian cricket team to Toronto for the five-match Sahara Cup series against Pakistan is really shocking. Why do our political leaders mix sports with politics. It is true that Pakistan is supporting terrorist activities in Kashmir, but sports is not related to it in any aspect. Sports helps in improving relations between two nations. Indian and Pakistani sports lovers were waiting for the Sahara Cup since long but the Indian Government’s decision has really hurt their feelings.

RAJDEEP SINGH
Phagwara

SA victory

The South Africa Cricket team fought magnificently in the second Test against Sri Lanka. After being 34 for 5 at one stage in the first innings, Lance Klusener with his unbeaten century (118 no) enabled his team to reach the 253-run mark. Due to fine batting by Jayasuriya and others, Sri Lanka were 260 for 4 at one stage and extended the score to 286 when the fifth wicket fell but here again South Africa fought well and bowled out the rivals for 308 runs thus conceding a lead of only 55 runs. South Africa scored 232 in the second innings setting a target of only 177 runs for Sri Lanka to win. Sri Lanka started the chase on a dismal note, but Ranatunga played one of his best innings to take Lanka near the target. South Africa kept their cool and after Ranatunga’s dismissal Lanka folded up for 169 giving South Africa a well deserved 7-run victory.

VED PRAKASH
Kaithal