Has anybody noticed one strange thing in cricket? Whenever any Sri Lankan cricketer is reported by the umpires for chucking Indians are vocal in their support and take up the issue with ICC.  Whenever a similar thing happens with a Pakistani cricketer Indians take the lead in defending the player.  One way of defining is that since Sri Lanka and Pakistan are Asian countries, India being the biggest and most powerful cricketing nation consider themselves as big brothers and  feel that is their duty to protect Asian countries.

When Muralidharan was first reported for throwing in 1993  , his skipper  Arjuna Ranatunga was the most vocal in defending his fellow countryman.  Indians were no less in vocal in their support for the Sri Lankan genius.  When it came to ball tampering accusations against Pakistani bowlers in 1992  and chucking allegations were made against Shoaib Akthar  in 1999,  there was more support for Pakistani players from India, than they got from their country.  Usually it is our very own legend Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri who take the lead in taking up the issue on behalf of Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

When Indian players were targeted by match referee Mike Deness in 2002, there was hardly any support coming from Pakistani and Sri Lankan Players or their boards.  While the Indian support was led by Ravi Shastri, our neighbouring countries preferred to play safe by not coming out in the open to support Indians. Since that 2002 tour of South Africa, Indians found themselves at the receiving end on numerous occasions but our neighbours who were beneficiaries of our support did not reciprocate.  Infact Arjuna Ranatunga has gone a step ahead and criticized Indian Board at every possible opportunity.

While Ravi Shastri and Sunil Gavaskar should be appreciated for protecting players from Sri Lanka and Pakistan, they should ensure a couple of things before supporting Sri Lankan and Pakistani players.

1) They should not blindly support a player from Sri Lanka and Pakistan.  They should find out if allegations are genuine.  If allegations are genuine and these players guilt, then they should be non committal.

2) Whenever they decide to support a Sri Lankan and Pakistani player after thoroughly satisfying themselves, then they should support them with a clear understanding, that they reciprocate this gesture when an Indian player deserves support.

Let us support the deserving, but follow a give and take policy

Regards

Satish

vice versa

• Written by N R SATISH.
• In category Cricket.
• 15 years ago.

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