KARACHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is supposed to be the supreme body governing world cricket. As the supreme body, it has to set an example of just and fair decision-making. All of its decisions should be transparent and above reproach. However, the latest episode in which former Australian cricketer Tim May was ousted from the ICC cricket committee after alleged pressure exerted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in order to install its preferred candidate is a black mark on the ICC.
How is the ICC going to enforce rules regarding ball-tampering and match-fixing, when the body itself is indulging in unethical activities, at the behest of the Indian board? What kind of message is it sending to young and budding cricketers? The icing on the cake is the arrogant statement of the spokesman for the ICC, Mr Samiul Hasan. He said that the ICC does not deem it fit to explain how and why Mr May was ousted. The Indian Board, of course, would not respond to questions regarding its behaviour in this matter as it has been caught with its hands in the cookie jar. The honourable thing to do for Mr Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, who was the BCCI’s preferred candidate in place of Mr May, would be to resign from his position because what has happened is certainly not cricket.
It is high time that the ICC shows some leadership and spine in other matters, too. Why do we still not have the Decision Review System enforced in all international matches when it is accepted by all the cricket boards except one? This is a sad time for this great game loved by hundreds of millions.
Mian Shaukat Hussain
Published in The Express Tribune, May 9th, 2013.
