SCG Fiasco: A Letter to Anil Kumble

Dear Reader,

My name is Aseem Prakash. What follows is a letter I intend to send to Anil Kumble, captain of India, written after having witnessed the proceedings at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) for the India – Australia Test match that was played between January 2 and January 6, 2008. If you watched the match or happen to know of it and are feeling displeased you are likely to find reflection in what I have written. I earnestly request you to forward this mail to as many people as you possibly can.

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Dear Anil,

In view of the recent proceedings at the SCG, I an ardent lover of Cricket urge the Indian team to return home. While this would be a gesture in protest of the horrendous umpiring displayed throughout the Test match it must also be looked upon as a measure to prevent further loss of national pride and the ensuing national hurt. What happened at the SCG was an insult to the honourable Cricket played by you and your men whose pain was felt far beyond the Indian team’s dressing room in every nook and corner of India. Any decision you might take as captain of the Indian national team will have repercussions that will go well beyond the domain of Cricket and sport.

The inexplicabilities which took place on the SCG and which you already know can be briefly summarized as follows.

At a score of around 190 Australia were six wickets down when Andrew Symonds who was on 30 survived what could have been in international cricketing history the loudest ever nick not given out. He was lucky again on two separate occasions when he should have been given out stumped. Having gone on to make over 150 he ended up making a decisive contribution to Australia's first innings score. Ricky Ponting nicked and survived an instantaneous and cohesive appeal for caught behind while Rahul Dravid was given out following a similar caught behind appeal when he hadn't nicked the ball and had his bat clearly tucked behind his pad. Dravid's sent-off was critical since he had looked solid and also because of Yuvraj Singh's poor run so far in this series. Saurav Ganguly who had been stroking confidently was sent-off following an edge towards the second slip. Mark Benson after consultation with Ponting raised his finger thus forcing Ganguly to leave after he had initially stood his ground. While there is debate on whether the catch was legitimate it is unacceptable that the decision was made based on a consultation with the home team captain as opposed to with the square leg umpire and/or the third umpire. In addition such a consultation was nonsensical given that previously the Australian captain, vice-captain and other members of the Australian side had appealed vociferously in instances of the batsman being clearly not out. Mahendra Singh Dhoni survived a strong caught behind appeal after the decision was referred to the third umpire. It would have made sense for the same to have been done in the cases of Ponting and Dravid. Were the umpires learning during the course of the match?

The role of ICC is to work in the best interests of Cricket. No more. And there can be no Cricket without Cricket players and Cricket lovers. No amount of enquiry, reprehension and retribution can change the fact that appalling umpiring in conjunction with dishonorable and desperate Cricket played by the Australian team has shut the Indian team out of this series. I don’t know how this can be seen to be in the best interest of Cricket or its lovers. If according to Mr. Ponting, sledging is an outcome of the cultural difference between the two countries then how far does one need to stretch his imagination to wonder if the goons in any society could be considered artists? The Indian team has gone to Australia to compete against the Australian team, the one which is not aided by three umpires. Therefore I see no reason why you and the ten finest cricketers of India whom you lead should risk putting the honour and feelings, their own as well as of their countrymen in further jeopardy by continuing to play in this series unless --

(1) Mr Bucknor, Mark Benson and BNJ Oxenford apologise publicly for their blunders and are replaced.

(2) The test match is deemed null and void in the record book.

(3) The Harbhajan Singh controversy is resolved in a manner which can be considered just.

Should you and the team walk out of this tour you will not become the first captain to have done so. Arjuna Ranatunga has staged a team walk-off against Australia.

On a personal note and I do not think I would be alone here, I have decided to not watch the rest of this series should it continue. My decision is not influenced by the 2-0 scoreline and I might have liked to watch till the end of the last test even with a 3-0 scoreline provided the Australian wins could be seen as fair.

What happened at the SCG during the last five days is much worse for Cricket than it is for Indian Cricket.

Thank you,

Aseem Prakash

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If you read the letter above and share the sentiment it contains I would like to invite you to join this protest. I believe that a joint and organized display of protest against the umpiring and support for the captain by Cricket lovers in India could seriously alter the development of events in the Indian camp. You may join by joining the SCG Protest community that can be found on Facebook, Orkut, Hi5 and Fropper. If you are not on any of these social networking portals you could either join any one of them or send me your full name and e-mail address so that I am able to include your support.

I declare that my role in this protest is of initiation and not leadership and will be glad if that comforts you.

Thank you,

Aseem Prakash

P.S. You may direct any queries to me at aseem.prak@gmail.com