Ball Tampering - Don’t lose sight of the issue
The fact that Darrell Hair requested to step down for ASD500 000, is at best a poor decision on his part, and the fact that the ICC saw fit to publish the details is reprehensible. However, do not lose sight of the real issue which is the conduct by the Pakistani Team. The issue is one of whether or not they tampered with the ball not whether Hair has offered to step down. Hair would not have made the decision he did, if not feel it was justified, and don’t forget Billy Doctrove was there as well. Now admittedly, the ICC will need to decide whether the evidence supports that decision, but even if they find the Pakistani Team innocent I don’t see how Inzimam can escape the disrepute charge. As a team they were in a strong position to go on and win a test match, and for matters of pride they decided not to come out after tea. They could easily have played and then fought there corner afterwards, thereby retaining some dignity, and not depriving the paying public of a day and a half’s worth of play.
Fraser