CHARGE AGAINST M.C.C. PLAYERS

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27916, 13 March 1956, Page 14

CHARGE AGAINST M.C.C. PLAYERS

ABUSIVE LANGUAGE ALLEGED (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) KARACHI, March 11. Imtiaz Ahmad, Pakistani test wicketkeeper, today accused the M.C.C. players of using abusive language against Pakistani players, the umpire, and the country while he- was batting in today's final unofficial test. He made the statement—the second allegation against the behaviour of M'iC.C. players on the present tour—at a dressingroom newspaper conference after stumps were drawn. Earlier, while batting, he had a two-minute conference on the field with the M.C.C. captain, Donald Carr. The incident occurred after a leg-before-wicket appeal against Imtiaz was refused in this third day of the hotly-fought match. Imtiaz moved away from the wicket and spoke to Umpire Shujauddin at square leg. Carr also joined in the conversation and then waved his arms to his fielders in a placatory attitude. The game was resumed, but on his dismissal, Imtiaz told reporters that he had stopped playing temporarily because the “M.C.C. players standing near the wicket were using abusive language against the Pakistani players, the umpire, and the country.” He repeated his statement before the newspapers, the M.C.C. captain and the manager. Mr Geoffrey Howard, and his own captain, Fazil Mahmood, at a newspaper conference held in the M.C.C. dressing room after stumps were drawn. One of the M.C.C. players admitted at the conference that he had used strong language, but flatly denied having used the terms alleged against him. Later the two captains Issued this statement: “Imtiaz Ahmad when batting, objected to some close-to-the-wicket fielders ; using words among themselves which up set him while he was preparing to take strike. He drew the attention of the M.C.C. captain to it. and asked him to stop them, which he did.” Idris Begh, the other umpire in today’s match, was involved in the previous incident, during the third unofficial test, at Peshawar. He was surprised in his hotel room after play on Sunday. February 26 ; by a group of M.C.C. players who threw a bucket of water over him. Begh’s shoulder was also slightly sprained. 1