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"Batting in short sleeves"
By Dr. Sanjiva Wijesinha
Early last year, when Australia was touring the West Indies, Australia's fiery fast bowler Glen McGrath and hot tempered West Indian batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan abused each other and nearly came to blows on the field during a match. Officiating at this game were Englishman David Shepherd (umpire) and South African Mike Proctor (match referee) the self same duo who were officiating at the Asia Cup final last Sunday.

One might have expected them to at least inquire into this incident, which was witnessed by a host of spectators and a multitude of television viewers. But nothing came of it - Proctor did not even have a hearing, and neither McGrath nor Sarwan were reprimanded, fined or even rapped over the wrist with a wet feather!

Last Sunday, however, when Sri Lanka's wicket keeper Kumar Sangakkara is alleged to have made a comment "you look fine in short sleeves" to Indian cricketer Harbajan Singh when he came out to bat, Proctor slapped him with a fine of his entire match fee - a not inconsiderable sum for a Third World Cricketer.

One can understand Singh's reaction if one realises that the wording of the alleged comment may have touched a raw nerve in a bowler who has been accused of "chucking". Wearing long sleeves while bowling prevents one's elbows being seem by the umpire, and according to the current laws, bending the elbow excessively constitutes "chucking" - which is illegal.

Rightly or wrongly, the sensitive Singh reacted (some might say guiltily) to what he thought he heard and promptly informed umpire Shepherd. Proctor as match referee considered the allegation that was referred to him by Shepherd and decided (rightly or wrongly) to punish Sangakkara "for provoking a reaction by Harbajan Singh." I say "rightly or wrongly" because Proctor based his judgement on Shepherd's report - and Harbajan Singh's reaction.

As a match referee he has the final word - and the cricketer who is fined has no possibility of appealing to higher authority! I suspect that even Kakille Rajjuruvo would not have done what Proctor did! From the above facts, is it any surprise that might thinking people sometimes feel that the proctors and shepherds of the cricketing establishment - are biased against our cricketers?

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