Umpires erred

Press, 26 December 1984, Page 26

Umpires erred

NZPA-Reuter Islamabad A Pakistani inquiry committee has found that urneKhizer Hayat and Aslam made at least six doubtful decisions in the second cricket test between Pakistan and New Zealand in Hyderabad last month. The official APP news agency quoted the Pakistan Cricket Board’s acting secretary, Rafi Nasim, as saying the report by a former captain, Hanif Mohammad, and a former umpire, Shujauddin, decided Khizer and Mian had given at least four doubtful decisions against New Zealand and two against Pakistan. The inquiry, ordered by the board after protests by New Zealand, which lost the three-match series, 2-0, did

not, however, propose taking action against the umpires. v Nasim quoted the report, which was based on replays of a television film of the match, as saying that the mistakes by the umpires were not deliberate but occurred due to “excessive appealing by fielders and lack of experience.” Meanwhile, the Karachi afternoon English-language newspaper, “The Leader,” sharply criticised the New Zealanders for what it called their lack of sportsmanship and manners. A four-column article headed “Unsporting Behaviour by New Zealanders” said the series had tarnished their image. “When we recall the visits

of teams led by (Harry) Cave and John Reid and compare the behaviour of the present lot with them, we shudder to think of the moral degradation which has crept into the bodypolitic of the team known for its charms, pleasant manners and sporting spirit,” the article said. It accused the New Zealanders of intimidating umpires and of a shocking display of anger on one occasion when a decision had gone against them. “We hope the New Zealanders would take stock of their behaviour while going over the causes of their defeat,” the article said. Pakistan tours New Zealand next month.