“RAGGING” OF UMPIRE

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27912, 8 March 1956, Page 11

“RAGGING” OF UMPIRE

M.C.C. OFFERS TO END TOUR PAKISTAN DECLINES (N.Z Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, March 6. The Pakistan Cricket Board Control today declined an offer by the M.C.C. to cancel the rest of the current tour. The offer resulted from the "ragging” of a Pakistan test umpire by M.C.C. players at Peshawar recently. The president of ttp M.C.C., Lord Alexander of Tunis, made t’ J offer in a telephone call to the president of the Pakistan board, General Iskander Mirza. A statement issued today by the M.C.C. said that Lord Alexander had again expressed the regrets and apologies of the M.C.C. He had offered to cancel the remainder of the tour and immediately recall the team if thin would help to restore friendly relations. Lord Alexander offered to compensate the Pakistan Board of Control for any financial loss arising from this action, the statement said.

General Mirza had replied that he greatly appreciated the attitude taken by the M.C.C., but had asked that the tour should be allowed to continue. “The M.C.C. committee proposes to take the necessary action on the return of the team,” the statement said. The "ragging” of the umpire, Mr Idris Begh, occurred after a dinner given by the Peshawar Cricket Association during the unofficial third test 10 days ago. The team will play the unofficial fourth test on March 9 and leave for England by air on March 15. Bruce Harris, cricket writer for the "Evening Standard,” said that the M.C.C.'s statement was one of almost abject apology. The addendum that "necessary action” would be taken when the team arrived home was a plain hint that one or more individuals were to be punished, the writer said. The "Evening News" said that this proposal to scuttle and get out by the M.C.C. president was an amazing action after he had already sent two cablegrams of regret to Pakistan and received a placatory reply.