PAKISTAN: CRICKET - Ball-tampering row acquires racial, political undertones in Pakistan

Reaction in Pakistan to the ball-tampering row at the fourth test against England has spiraled from initial dismay to a darkening mood of racial, religious and political undertones. The cartoon in a Pakistani Islamist newspaper on Wednesday (August 23) has Australian umpire Darrell Hair dressed in a Nato uniform growling: "I am also waging a war against terrorism." A front page headline in The News reads: "When We Are Not Terrorists, We Are Cheats." The national media has been wading into Hair, digging up his past history and problems with Asian teams, and has also ridiculed the ICC for its perceived bias against Asians. People in Pakistan's largest city Karachi, angered over the charge, took it as damaging their national pride; some termed it bias against Muslims. "This has been done to humiliate Muslims. The Muslims are being humiliated, being tortured wherever they are. Jew lobby is active against Muslims. You can see it happening everywhere. They also want our cricket team out of international cricket," said Murad Ali, a resident of Karachi. "The ongoing issue against Muslims is of international nature. They (westerners) keep that in mind so they do not allow them (Muslims) to come forward. They settle their account whenever and wherever they get a chance," said Abdul Mukhlis, another resident of Karachi. Even the voices of former captains Imran Khan, Javed Miandad and Wasim Akram, who felt Pakistan should have played on at the Oval, have been drowned out by a majority which feels Pakistan's pride has been damaged. Pakistan were incensed that umpires Hair and Billy Doctrove had decided they were guilty of ball-tampering by changing the ball and penalising them five runs on Sunday. They did not come out after tea and the umpires awarded the game to England. A hearing on Friday into Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq's actions during the test has been postponed, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said. The postponement came after adjudicator Ranjan Madugalle said he was unable to attend because of a family illness. Pakistan skipper Inzamam is charged with bringing the game into disrepute. The delay would appear to pave the way for the one-day series starting next week between England and Pakistan to go ahead. Pakistan players and their coach Bob Woolmer had suggested that if Inzamam were banned, they could pull out of the tour starting with a match against Middlesex on Thursday. Speed's statement said a new date for the hearing had yet to be arranged but it would be difficult to fit it in during the one day series.

ITN Source | August 24, 2006

Tags:. .muslims. .fourth. .difficult. .billy. .account