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| Inzamam-ul Haq in
Uxbridge on Thursday. Pakistan were to play Middlesex
in a one-dayer that was abandoned due to overnight rain
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Calcutta: There have been
conflicting reports, but Shaharyar Khan has told The
Telegraph that Pakistan wouldn’t mind the rescheduling
of Inzamam-ul Haq’s disciplinary hearing till immediately
after the upcoming ODIs against England — provided adjudicator
Ranjan Madugalle is available by then.
The five-match series begins in
Cardiff on August 30 and ends in Birmingham on September
10.
“It’s a fact that we
wanted the process to be completed quickly. However, because
of a genuine reason (Madugalle’s non-availability owing
to his sister’s illness), we won’t have any problem
with a postponement till the ODIs conclude,” the Pakistan
Cricket Board (PCB) chairman informed.
Speaking from London on Thursday
evening, Shaharyar added: “Of course, the situation
will change if Madugalle can’t conduct the hearing
for an indefinite period… The position, I suppose, is going
to be clear when the International Cricket Council (ICC)
lawyers meet with our legal advisors in the next 24 hours.”
[Till rather late, though, a comment
couldn’t be got from the Colombo-based Madugalle. While
his house phone went unanswered, the cell was in voice mail-mode.]
Significantly, Shaharyar maintained
that the PCB wasn’t involving Asia in its fight with
controversial umpire Darrell Hair.
“It’s between Hair and
Pakistan… Countries have extended their support, communicated
through calls to me, but we aren’t looking to make
it an Asia versus Hair battle,” he said.
The Pakistan captain, it may be
recalled, has been charged on two counts: Ball tampering
and bringing the game into disrepute at The Oval, on what
became the last day of the four-Test series.
A heavy penalty awaits Inzamam
if both charges are upheld by the adjudicator. He can, of
course, appeal.
Meanwhile, in a related development,
the ICC has confirmed chief executive Malcolm Speed is heading
for London.
“Mr Speed will have a series
of meetings, but specifics haven’t been finalised,”
remarked an official, when contacted in Dubai.
One understands the ICC’s
in-house lawyer, Urvasi Naidoo, is going to be on the same
flight.
Footnote: Pakistan’s
limited overs match against Middlesex, at Uxbridge, was
called off without even a ball being bowled. “Heavy
overnight rain affected both the wicket and the adjoining
areas,” explained manager Zaheer Abbas.
Why Madugalle
... Because, by a process of elimination,
others get knocked out... Here goes:
Tier I Match Referees
(alphabetically)
- Chris Broad: He’s an Englishman and, so,
can’t be treated as neutral.
- Jeff Crowe: Was on assignment in North America
when the controversy erupted. Hence, not available.
- Ranjan Madugalle: Being the Chief Match Referee,
he has the best credentials. Neither Pakistan nor England
objected to his appointment.
- Roshan Mahanama: Has recently been promoted
to Tier-I. Inexperienced, perhaps, to handle a major issue.
- Mike Procter: Is in the thick of it all. Can’t
be judge and prosecutor.
Tier II Match Referees
(alphabetically)
- Alan Hurst: He’s an Australian and, so,
can’t be treated as neutral.
- Clive Lloyd: Big on stature, but one of the
umpires involved in the controversy is a West Indian —
Billy Doctrove. So, can’t be seen as neutral.
- Jawagal Srinath: The least experienced of them
all
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