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Darrell Hair wins Oval test for England..!!Filed under
Cricket Controversies
I remember getting mad with my friends as they cheated during a local
cricket game... But this was an even interesting cricket match..
The highest level of cricket and it turned out to be more worse than what we used to play in our gully. At least those matches that were left undecided, but Oval test match, the fourth and last of the series between Pakistan and England was awarded to England for some reasons that you won't be able to understand untill you read this article in full..  Here we go -- Some history :- Pakistan bowled out England for just 173 runs in first innings and piled up 504 in their first innings which gave them a lead of 331. By the end of 3rd day of this test match at Oval, Pakistan also managed to take 1 wicket with a lead of 253 still remaining with two more days to play.... The start of "Ball tampering" controversy :- It was the 56th over of England's second innings (bowled by Umar Gul) when Australian umpire - Darrell Hair called Pakistan captain Injamam-ul-haq, showed him the spot on the ball which was arguably illegally scratched on one side, and informed him that Pakistan team has been found guilty of "tampering with the condition of ball" and England team will be awarded 5 penalty runs. Not only that, Third umpire was called and England batsmen - Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood were allowed to chose a new ball of their choice. Obviously Injamam was not happy and looked mad while moving all around the ground. But surprisingly, no physical reaction was shown by Pakistani team and the Oval test match went on. Even more surprising factor was that the bowler - Umar Gul was taken off from bowling, even when umpire Darrell Hair had not accused him for tampering with the ball. In fact, TV replays had absolutely no footage to prove whether someone has done anything wrong with the condition of the ball or not. All the television replays could show was that Umpire Darrell Hair was keeping a very close eye on Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul  as they polished
the ball, but nothing else..What happened then :- Oval test match went on for 16 more overs before "Bad Light" stopped the proceedings. Players left the field and took an early tea interval. AND THEN STARTED THE CONTROVERSY as umpires (Darrell Hair from Australia and Billy Doctrove from West Indies) came out, followed by England batsmen when the lights had improved and tea had been taken. But guess what - there was no Pakistan team on the ground...!! Both umpires and batsmen waited and waited.... and waited but there was no movement from Pakistani team. In fact, the balcony door was closed and no one could been seen. After good 5 or more minutes, Pakistan captain Imjamam came out on balcony (in his White's), and as when he looked like ready to finally come out on Oval ground with his team, the umpires took the bails off and said something to the batsmen - which we couldn't hear on tv but appeared that umpires had asked english batsmen to go back to their dressing room... or something like that. And then :- 10-15 more minutes passed by and commentators - Ian Botham, Nasser Hussain and David Gower had plenty to talk about, including suggestions like "it's hurtful for a proud team like Pakistan for being accused for tampering with ball" or "what will happen to this Oval test now" and much more. Eventually, no body knows what Pakistan decided inside closed doors but their team - lead by Injamam came on the ground, only to find no receivers. There was no umpire or England batsmen as they waited for a minute or two. And then went back into their dressing rooms - LEAVING A BALL BEHIND ON THE GROUND..!!  What next :- PCB Chairman - Shaharyar Khan came out with a speech and said "Pakistan felt a grave accusation had been made against the team and country, and felt deeply insulted". The Fourth Day's play at Oval was called off, with no answers on whether it will resume on 5th Day or not. And after meetings between related people like PCB, ECB and ICC referee and the umpires - THE OVAL TEST MATCH WAS AWARDED TO ENGLAND AS PAKISTAN TEAM FORFEITED THE MATCH. You can understand it as England were given a "walk over". The unsolved threads :- 1. Everyone knows about the TV Camera's in an International cricket match these days. Nothing can pass by their eye, but surprisingly, there was absolutely nothing that Camera's may show about what and when Pakistan team did wrong with the cricket ball - to be termed as ball tampering. All TV replays could show was Pakistani fielders were polishing the ball vigorously but that's it..!! Is Darrell Hair sharper than the Camera's these days..?? Let me remind you that there were no less than 26 live camera's all throught the Oval test match. 2. Why didn't Injamam got angry instantly when this happened. Why did he played on for 16 more overs and then started the drama?? He could have taken his team off any time he wanted and raised the question on umpire's decision in a better manner than he actually did. 
3. Why it is always Darrell Hair when it comes to umpiring faults. Do
you remember Sachin Tendulkar being given out LBW when the ball from
Glenn McGrath had hit his shoulders. Yes, it was Australian umpire
Darrell Hair who raised his finger. And what about Muthiah Muralitharan who
has been cleared by ICC a million of times but still Darrell Hair wants
to call him a chucker and never umpire in a cricket match when Murali
is playing. Or either Murali doesn't play when he is umpiring..!!I admit Pakistan had done something wrong - may not be with the ball but by leaving the cricket field like they did, and now they have got the penalty of losing the Oval test which they surely would have won. They lost the Pakistan vs England 2006 test series series 3-0 when they would have made it look lot better as 2-1. They probably deserved it. BUT WHAT ABOUT DARRELL HAIR? I saw the whole episode none stop for 2 hours on ESPN and never saw West Indies umpire Billy Doctrove in any madness... it was all Darrell Hair. Why it's is all Darrell Hair everytime.. At the end :- ICC appointed top match referee Ranjan Madugalle for the hearing against Pakistan captain Injamam-ul-haq. There were two chargers against Injamam for breaching "ICC Code of conduct" as 1) Changing the condition on a cricket ball (Rule 2.10, level two) and 2) of level three related to conduct that brings the players or the game of cricket into disrepute and carried far more serious consequesces. Inzamam was banned for 2 one day internationals and a test match. Hair soon retired.
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