The ICC voted 7-3 to sack Darrell Hair from the Elite Panel of Umpires. England, Australia and New Zealand voted in favour of retaining Darrell Hair, while India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe voted against him.
This decision has quickly been cast as an example of the increasing influence and power of the “Asian Bloc” (consisting of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh). However, it is ironic that England, Australia and New Zealand (a minority of 3) should accuse the 4 Asian nations of voting as a bloc, and the other 3 nations of backing them (there by insinuating the whole event to be mere power play).
A voting “bloc” is a term which describes a group of voters who always vote together, irrespective of the issues. Australia, New Zealand and England have clearly disregarded Darrell Hair’s secret letter to the the Umpires Manager, which the ICC CEO felt compelled to make public. I cannot understand how England, Australia or New Zealand can realistically justify finding in favor of Darrell Hair in the light of that letter, especially without investigating the matter and getting Darrell Hair and the Umpires Manager to explain why the letter was sent, whether it was part of a continuing communication. If that had been answered satisfactorily, on the record, then England, Australia and New Zealand’s decision to vote in favor of Darrell Hair would have been justified. Once Hair sent that letter, it revealed that all was not well on his part. Madugalle’s judgment further made several constructive recommendations about the Umpires actions in an Oval like situation.
As it happens, the Australia, New Zealand and England have voted as a bloc, completely ignoring the events in toto, with out giving any thought to the impact this will have on future Umpires on the ICC’s elite panel.
This issue could have been resolved as a Cricketing issue. My position on this issue has been to look at it from the point of view of Cricket. I felt therefore, that Pakistan were wrong to walk out the way they did, that Darrell Hair was well within the letter of the law as far as his actions in the Oval Test went. Unfortunately, first Pakistan and then England, Australia and New Zealand have turned it into a political issue. History, Politics and the insecurity of the erstwhile Cricket hightable have won over Cricket.
A sad episode, with the saddest possible out come for Cricket.
