South Africa v India 'Unofficial Test'

[Player]

How bizarre.

Have South Africa and India seceded from the ICC over this match referee affair? Perhaps this is strong language but this is an international sport supposedly governed by uniform laws. What happens the next time a touring team behaves childishly?

No matter what sport the referee is always right, and any attempt to dispute this point brings the game into disrepute.

The ICC has always been a venal toothless tiger unwilling or unable to stand up to individual countries. Only now do we have a test world cup and a regular touring schedule.

For its future in the game I think it is important that the ICC stands firm, and at least threatens sanctions against both countries.

[RogerC]

The likeliest result of the ICC standing firm over this issue is teams like India and Pakistan seceding from the whole ICC system. South Africa have taken India's side in this particular issue, so their support of a tough stance by the ICC is already in question.

India's beef seems to be that the ICC are not even open to dialogue on this one. If we could put the whole Tendulkar incident through an appeals process (opinion is certainly divided amongst fans and jounalists over whether he is guilty and what exactly he is guilty of), that would go some way toward defusing the tension.

IMHO (and it is a very HO), the ICC doesn't necessarily need to stand tough. It needs to be fair and be seen to be fair. This looks like an overreaction to a couple of minor infractions (in the case of the overappealing a very minor infraction, in light of what we've seen in recent times from a host of countries) by Mike Denness. If the ICC were to choose the Slater incident to bare their teeth, they would have had their head bitten off. They've chosen India to pick on because they know they can.

I think it is important to have a look at how South Africa responded. They are ostensibly the team that were offended against by Tendulkar and the strong appealing. And yet they took India's side. So who exactly are the ICC acting on behalf of??

[Fall Out Boy]

What a joke, there is less then 1000 people at the game.

Surely India and South Africa realise that the game is bigger then their own agendas.

Hopefully the World Cup is taken from South Africa after tehir disgraceful display.

[Victor Trumper]

South Africa are supporting India because they stand to lose $3 million Aus if the game does not go ahead, no other reason. They have sold out.

The whole thing is a joke. Indian cricket is a joke and South African cricket is a joke.

[Dipper]

If India & their mates want to split from the world game let em & we'll see how long they survive before they come back with their begging bowls pleading to be let back in.

To be honest I've had it with the ridiculous appealing form these countries in Tests & the bleating about how hard done they are & the way they throw 'racism' into the equation whenever they don't like a decision from the ICC (eg their bowlers getting done for being chuckers).

It seems like India are trying to play hardball the whole time, they've signed a contract to play 4 Tests in England next year & now they're saying they'll only play 3 & are threatening not to come at all.

[The Hippie]

I know each side overdoes the appeals, but fair dinkum, some of Srinath's and Shastri's in the 2nd test were ridiculous. There were a few sliding down leg that wouldn't have hit a 3rd set of stumps, let alone a 2nd. Putting pressure on the umpires is getting out of hand now, but how do you help take a bit of that pressure off? TV replays don't tell the whole story, especially bat-pads and catches near the ground.

[Darky]

Let India go their own way. They can stick their constant whingeing and their crowd riots up their arses.

[steve waugh]

how does it feel india to be on the other foot!

now you know what it feels like!

[Player]

Please don't bother replying to my posts in future mark waugh because I think you are the only dropkick on this entire site that I have absolutely no time for and I do not mean that in a nice way. The brief guilty pleasure I received from reading your posts has long since faded.

I would put you on my IGNORE list, but I already have two of your personas there and that does not seem to stop your drivel. It would be much appreciated if you would put me on your IGNORE list though.

Thanking you in advance

Player

[steve waugh]

im steve waugh

[Fademan77]

heh good call :)

Unfortnuatly, India getting the ass will never happen. Mainly because of the Money involved. The ACB made more money from the tour of india than they did during the entire summer here (both tests and ODI's), so as you can see...money will win out in the end, just like the SAfrican government forcing the game to go ahead.

An interesting development has occured though: The suspended Indian player is going to be picked for the first test in england. The indians are ignoring the ICC's verdict that the 3rd test is not a real one. If this happens, the ICC might suspend India, which would be interesting.

Also, the head of India's cricketing board used to be the ICC's president (last year) and hes the one that set up the match referee's rules etc...and now hes complaining, which I think is interesting.

I love how they bring out the racist card every time they don't like a decision, from a referee that they both accepted before the game started.

This is up there with Ranatunga's effort a few years ago, walking the players off the field. etc...

Cricket can't be ruled by the thugs that roam the sub-continent. They talk about the double standards, and I understand where they're coming from. But when they come down hard on something, they should continue to do so.

However, India houses the biggest match fixer that was ever found. They also have umpires that go into the Indian rooms to celebrate a win with the players. So they aren't exactly clean either.

[The Hippie]

Very good points in there, Fademan. For years the calls have come from the sub-continent to crack down on bullies (ie, us) but when match referees finally show some balls and do what they are there for, they jump up and down and say, 'but you shouldn't be picking on us.' Whether it's Tendulkar or a bloke in his first test, do the crime, do the time.

Saying that, I will say that some behavior from the Aussies over the years, especially the Slater incident should have been cracked down on harder, then maybe the Indians wouldn't have that card to play about being picked on, it would make them look petulant.

[clucas91]

The only thing bringing the game into "Disrepute" is calling Unofficial tests!

[Briedis]

Yeah, good post Fademan!

One thing, can you give me a source on your comments on the Indian umpires celebrating with the players after a win. I am having an argument on an Indian cricket board with a bloke who reckons the Indian umps are the most unbiased in the world...:rolleyes:

[Joe Mama]

This whole debate is all piss and wind because India can't afford to be let out in the cold regardless of all its posturing by its cricket board.

Indian television needs England and Australia to have tours to the sub-continent because that's where the money is, and even if the secede from the ICC and take the non-white nations with them, it would still be a joke because India would never play Pakistan, especially now. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh is too weak at the moment. the West Indies get more money playing Australia and England then in India and South Africa would rather play the poms and us any day and would only be forced to join the indians because of the ANC.

So regardless of all the grandstanding and bullyboy tactics of the BCCI (India's cricket board), everyone loses out if this split gets out of hand.