Thursday, August 24, 2006

Inzamam's English at issue?

Interesting article from the Daily Telegraph. From unnamed sources, there is a whole lot being said about what actually happened in the dressing room and the precipitant for the Pakistani team's responses.

Mihir Bose claims, from uncited sources, that not only did Inzamam not understand what happened on the field or why the cricket ball was changed, he did not realize this until he had left the field and the happenings were explained to him. Further, there is some acrimony cited between Inzy and Woolmer, as Inzamam's feelings were that Woolmer was working behind his back with the PCB.

Interestingly, the absence of Zaheer Abbas from the decision making process here is being blamed a great deal for what actually happened. If the issue of language was a significant one, one would have thought that Zaheer Abbas would have sat Inzamam down and explained the situation to him in Urdu and in detail.

I must say, another part of Bose's article which is bothering me, is the absence of sportsmanship by the English side. When they did note what was happening, rather than investigating the situation and finding out why the Pakistani side was unhappy or not coming out onto the field, they ran out to claim the forfeiture, which was within the rules but very likely outside the bounds of sportsmanship.

Regardless, Inzamam's decision to not return to the field without getting an explanation for the capricious shenanigans is still vindicated in my eyes. I just hope that he is not being hung out to dry even by his own board.

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