Umpires say sorry to Umar: The News

By From Abdul Mohi Shah
JOHANNESBURG: Umpires Simon Taufel (Australia) and Ian Gould (England) said ‘sorry to Umar Akmal’ after their sub-standard and biased umpiring in the Champions Trophy semifinal lead to Pakistan’s unexpected defeat against New Zealand on Saturday.

A source in the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed to ‘The News’ that heated arguments were exchanged between Pakistan coach Inrtikhab Alam and the umpires during a hearing conducted after the semifinal at Wanderers. Match referee Javagal Srinath called up Umar and Intikhab for a hearing after the match, over what umpires blamed the batsman for showing dissent over the lbw decision. Taufel ruled Umar lbw at a time when he had played the ball on to his pads. Umar’s fall at a crucial stage robbed Pakistan of a chance to post a big total.

The Pakistan camp defended Umar and was very critical of the umpiring standard during the match. Srinath repeated the slides in front of field umpires and later conducted a separate hearing with the umpires.

According to the sources, the match referee later cleared Umar of showing any dissent and conveyed that the umpire who had made the decision said ‘sorry’ to Umar for the wrong judgment.

That was not the only biased decision by the umpires who faltered on no less than four occasions to help New Zealand make it to the final. Grant Elliott, who went on to play a match-winning knock was let off twice during his stay at the wicket. Shahid Afridi almost got him when he was new at the crease. Rana Naveed had him plumb on a full toss when again he was ruled not out. Even Daniel Vettori got a lucky break off Saeed Ajmal.

The worst of all that the two field umpires were so strict on Pakistan bowlers that they ruled most of short pitched deliveries as wide ball and at the same time extended full luxury to New Zealand bowlers to hurl such deliveries.

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Pak troika in rigging row: Statesman

KARACHI, 6 OCT: The spectre of match-fixing has returned to haunt Pakistan cricket with the country's parliamentary committee on sports summoning the Pakistan Cricket Board chief, Mr Ijaz Butt, captain Younus Khan and the coach, Mr Intikhab Alam, to seek an explanation for the team's Champions Trophy loss to Australia following allegations of deliberate under-performance.
A senior parliamentarian, who heads the national assembly's standing committee on sports, has accused the team of deliberately losing to Australia in the Champions Trophy in a group match.
Mr Jamshed Khan Dasti said the standing committee would summon Mr Butt, Younus and Mr Alam shortly to explain the team's performance in the Champions Trophy.
“There is evidence that the team lost the match to Australia on purpose. They under-performed. Then, against New Zealand too, there are signs the team didn't want to win,” Mr Dasti alleged.
“We have been told by some respected and senior people and we are trying to collect evidence that there might have been some dirty dealings involving the matches against Australia and New Zealand,” Mr Dasti claimed.
Pakistan's last-ball defeat by Australia put India out of the Champions Trophy while their loss to New Zealand in a semi-final came as a surprise to many. Mr Dasti lashed out at Mr Butt and the team for disappointing the nation.
“I can say we lost to Australia on purpose. And the team's performance against New Zealand was zero. We will get to the bottom of this whole affair and find out the truth,” he said.
Mr Dasti said the standing committee would not allow corruption in cricket.
“We want to see changes in the board and Mr Butt must go because, as it is, he is too old for this job,” he added.

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