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Sight Screen

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

The Afridi Aftermath (-worma)

So we haven't heard the last of it yet. PCB, it seems, is going to enquire into the incident, which has been a pretty embarrassing one for them. Knowing a little bit about the ways of PCB, not sure what to expect from it(if anything at all). But to me, by the looks of it, this act surely warrants an extension of that three match sentence to probably a month or so.

Btw, I wasn't of this view when I first heard it, but then some of you guys described it in detail, and then later a friend detailed out the whole thing. That sounded hilarious, if only for the lack of basic sense on Afridi's part, and yes definitely punishable more strictly than match-fee deduction or some such.

For those of you who haven't seen the video, here's a link but not sure if it would work now. And this darn tool doesn't allow direct posting of videos. Anyone knows a working link?

Btw, Prem mentioned that he won't be on the blog, has a busy day today.

posted by worma at 12:08 PM

32 Comments:

  • Worma - link does not work - can you please give us the name of the file ... we can do a search there and then see that file?

    By Blogger Amit, at 12:49  

  • First things first, when you tried a bigger font size, I liked that, shift back to that. That is more viewer friendly IMHO.

    Secondly, I don't know if I would agree to a months's ban, but I would have definitely like to see him banned from taking further part in this present match. I thought about it by keeping my self in the other person's shoes, if I were an England fan, it would have rubbed salt in my wounds seeing him do that stupidity yesterday and the very next day, as if nothing had happened, come out and take two (very important) wickets, and continue smiling and goofing around.

    I'm a hell of a lot dissapointed, in fact disgusted and infuriated with Afridi, he has let the whole nation down, and his actions have put a bad name to the reputation of Pakistan cricket (filmy dialogues I know, but true in this case). His apparent nonchalence today, especially by way of body language was un acceptable to me.
    His wicket celebrations should have been much less animated and his general body language through out less the day's play less intimidating.

    Yes, he did say he was sorry. But at least there should be some measure of regret that shows from his face. And exactly why hasn't he come out and done a live, press confrence, with a live apology, that is addressed personally to the England players, to the rest of his team mates, to the match officials and above all his numerous fans, and countless followers of the game in this country. He has let us all down, and we deserve more respect than an indirect apology, quoted by the match referee.

    Finally, I'm pleased the PCB have complained about the run out, it was dissapointing that Simon Taufel the best umpire in the game did not have the very basic rules of the game but my bigger worry is England's continued habbit of hurling down throw at batsman when they are perfectly inside their crease and a chance of a run out non existent.

    Law 38.2 only provides for protecting the batsman from being dismissed run out when he's taking evasive action and he is inside his crease, it does not give him any assurance against a bowler trying to knock of his temple with a mindless throw. England have been doing this for a long while, and other teams, should I say bowlers, including Pakistani ones do it too, it is totally unacceptable practice that should be taken notice of. It is only a matter of time before some one gets hurt.

    And hello hello? Why wasn't Ian Bell called in at the hearing that was held yesterday? Didn't he claim a catch that he knew (IMHO) he hadn't taken? I'm not saying he should have been handed a five match ban ala Rashid Latif, but at least the referee should have had a chat with him, letting him know what is expected of him in the future.

    And to think after all this, this this very England team, won the Spirit of Cricket Award. Yeah right. So much for spirit of the game. Resting in peace it is right now.

    By Blogger Unknown, at 12:59  

  • zainub - you got it perfectly right !!

    By Blogger Amit, at 13:15  

  • Alas, me getting it perfectly right doesn't matter. It's what Roshan Mahanama thinks that matters.

    By Blogger Unknown, at 13:20  

  • hemal: thx for that. Try this now

    By Blogger worma, at 13:23  

  • I think this is the worst test match from the perspective of "spirit of the game" ... just outright wierd

    By Blogger Amit, at 13:28  

  • zainub: not sure about the fonts why they act funny at times. Will ask Prem if he modified the settings (he has those controls)

    About Afridi, yes you're right about his actions today. But tell me one thing....do you have any plausable explanation in your head as to *why* he was doing it, except to gain unfair advantage with full awareness of the wrongness of the act. Can you think of even a hint of an excuse what he 'mistakenly' thought at that moment, except that probably the cameras were not on the pitch?

    And btw, I've read your post (on your blog) about it, and I know that Pakistan players were a bit frustrated with the happening of the day. But to me it has not even a slightest of bearings on Afridi's actions.

    This is why I said a month's ban. And yes, probably not bowl in the test too.

    About Inzy's runout, ofcourse I'm more than pleased that atleast someone complained to the ICC about another shoddy piece of umpiring. They seem to be getting away with too many mistakes recently.

    And yes, Bell should have been referred. I commented quite a few times already, atleast I had an impression that he was also not expecting a decision right away. Atleast it looked to me that he was expecting to be referred. And that would have been given notout on benefit of doubt.

    By Blogger worma, at 13:30  

  • ohh...and did England win the spirit of the game award this time? Ahh well....didn't Nz, the worst of them all, win it last time. So atleast its consistent :-)

    Btw....about the throwing at batsman thing, I already wrote, and I'm hoping that the Indian team takes notice and is prepared to face it (or solve it before hand in a discussion)

    By Blogger worma, at 13:32  

  • Difficult to argue against that.

    But I would say, nevertheless that despite Afridi's mindlessness, for which a 3 match ban is an inadequate punishment, I don't really recall any other Pakistani player having breached the code of conduct, Shoaib's celebration today was a bit pointless but that you wouldn't call being against the spirit of the game. It's mostly the English players who have been the offenders, IMHO. But of course, the English fans will refuse to acknowledge this.

    By Blogger Unknown, at 13:35  

  • balaji, I posted the link in my comment above. You can download from there. Also I've modified the link in the main post, that also works now

    By Blogger worma, at 13:40  

  • This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    By Blogger Unknown, at 13:42  

  • zainub: Well there are transgressions and there are transgressions. Unfortunately what the English team does with the hurtling of ball at the stumps is not considered hurting the spirit of the game (atleast not seriously hurting :-)...its considered 'aggressive' attitude. Almost a trait these days. David Lloyd did say yesterday that he felt English players might stop using it after this incident, but I already read enough positive noises in favour as well. So now I doubt.

    By Blogger worma, at 13:43  

  • santa bhaiyya: did you get the full file? Its taking a long time to download now that I try. Isn't it starting with Botham bhai chatting with Sanju?

    By Blogger worma, at 14:01  

  • santa,
    Afridi actually doesnt take a spade and shovel and dig out the middle (just kidding).
    See the guy turning around on his feet and then KP mimicking it?

    By Blogger Toney, at 14:04  

  • santa: this is the file I got. Btw, as far as I understood, there is no other real action. When this happened the cameras on air (means the pics we were getting on tv) were not the ones which caught Afridi. Its after the damage was noticed that they checked other camera angles and found this out. And therefore, it can be seen as part of an analysis rather than actual pics (those would have been shown to third ump, referee etc)

    This is what I understood from the discussion...and what Botham said. I may be wrong though

    By Blogger worma, at 14:08  

  • Why did he do such a thing worma?

    I thought it could have been frustration, but as you said, his behavior today made that theory sound very dodgy.

    The only other reason I can think of is:

    Silliness, Foolishness, Insanity, Stupidity, Idiocy, Madness, Daftness, Senselessness… I could get my hand to a thesaurus if you will...

    By Blogger Unknown, at 14:11  

  • criclover,
    I would have been happier if there was a close up pic. Anyhow, Afridi owned upto it. What would have been funny was if he denied doing anything wrong as well.

    By Blogger Toney, at 14:11  

  • Actually, I remember the peerless SRT running on the pitch, when batting in the second innings against NZ (same one where he got a double 100). Fleming reacted angrily though, personally, I found it amusing.

    By Blogger Toney, at 14:13  

  • He couldn't have. That would be even more silly, foolish, insane, stupid, idioctic, mad, daft, senseless then actually doing it. I would have felt inclined to throw a tomoto at him in such a case if I was the macth referee.

    By Blogger Unknown, at 14:15  

  • zainub :-) I guess those will do....as none of them are close to innocence or ignorance, coz thats what I don't think it was. Btw, if you have the heart, do watch the video I gave in that link. Look at him listening to KP's complaint (and avoid looking at KP's hair ;-) and you'll see that you didn't need to wait till today to arrive at that judgment.

    Well....I guess thats how he is, part of the package. Its a wonder Woolmer gets so much out of him.

    By Blogger worma, at 14:16  

  • zainub,
    cool down. This was Afridi's version of madness and stupidity. Much as I want Pak to win this, I wish the game was abandoned. After all, whats a Pak Eng series without some controversies. Also, this would have prevented the English Lords from claiming that this was why they lost the series.

    By Blogger Toney, at 14:19  

  • sahir: yeah agreed. A good idea is to have a red card system. The player cannot take part further in the game. Atleast team feels the pinch immediately.

    By Blogger worma, at 14:19  

  • Have to leave, but will come back to comment on one or two things, for the moment, just one thing, flute, please don't call us pakis. I don't like the term.

    www.answers.com/paki for details
    or google paki+definition

    By Blogger Unknown, at 14:22  

  • flute,
    as far as I know, he's from Pathan land, speaks Pashtun. Maybe, Zainub can give details. Education has nothing to do with this. Wasnt Atherton guilty of ("accidentally") finding some dirt and vaseline in his pocket? And where did he study?

    By Blogger Toney, at 14:22  

  • flute, it is considered derogatory by some people, thats all. A lot depends on the usage.

    By Blogger Toney, at 14:25  

  • sahir
    Red cards in football have a ban of 2 games associated with it. And then, a review committee decides if the punishment is too light or too harsh

    By Blogger Toney, at 14:28  

  • yeah sahir, that's true. Probably same as in football...red card meaning suspension from next game as well. Because even in football the player about to come out can go and kick the opponent striker on his way out :-)

    But yes, cricket is more complicated. Here the scruffing up of the ball has its advatange for the others in the team as well.

    By Blogger worma, at 14:32  

  • cricktip: mate when we discussed this I think most agreed that More was probably wrong in that statement, or misquoted or misunderstood or whatever. Bottomline, we know it was time to move beyond SG's captaincy (atleast I already accepted that)...and thats what they did. Right?

    By Blogger worma, at 14:48  

  • jiet,
    I thoght it was 2 game suspension for a red card and one game for two yelow cards in different games. I am not sure though. And playing conditions differ anyhow.

    By Blogger Toney, at 14:56  

  • kban1: I think this particular act of Afridi would not even be covered by the ICC rule book...probably applied a 'acting against spirit of the game' or some such clause. After all, they can't have invented a '5 match ban' kind of rule for this act *now* and applied it to Afridi, could they?

    By Blogger worma, at 15:15  

  • Hey Sahir, this discussion is going along too nicely for my liking. Can I make an SG comment and then disrupt it? :)

    By Blogger Toney, at 16:13  

  • suraj: thread is there, now. Dude I'm on GMT+2...so kind of difficult to open a thread then ;-)

    By Blogger worma, at 03:20  

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