Wasim criticism sours 'friendship' (10 February 1999)

10 February 1999

Wasim criticism sours 'friendship'

By Peter Deeley in Delhi

WASIM AKRAM punctured the new-found harmony between Indian and Pakistani cricket yesterday when he made an outspoken attack on Test pitches here. His implicit criticism of the home umpire in the second match could also land him in trouble with the International Cricket Council match referee, the West Indies' Cammie Smith.

The Pakistan captain strongly praised the success of the "Friendship Tour" and the warmth with which his side have been received. But his remarks directed at Indian cricket will be seen as untimely by many, particularly after one newspaper described the series - which finished 1-1 - as "the willow path" to peace between the two nations.

Smith said he would be looking into Wasim's comments that in the second innings of the Test, which Pakistan lost by 212 runs, "we got a couple of debatable decisions. In a needle match like this experienced umpires are a must".

Although Wasim did not name umpire Abdul Jayaprakash, he was standing at the end from which Anil Kumble took all his 10 wickets.

Opening batsman Shahid Afridi got a reprimand from Smith for staying too long after he had been given out caught behind and there were also three leg-before decisions and two bat-pad catches.

"I think it is time we had two neutral umpires in all Test cricket and particularly in such a tense series as that between Pakistan and India," Wasim added. "They do it in all other international sports so why doesn't cricket follow suit? Then if a neutral umpire makes a wrong decision both teams will accept it."

Two neutral umpires will for the first time stand together in the triangular Asian Regional Test tournament, also involving Sri Lanka, which starts next week. They will be Steve Bucknor, of the West Indies, who also stood in Delhi, and Rudi Koertzen, of South Africa.

Wasim, who took his 363rd Test wicket in the second match to become Pakistan's highest wicket-taker, added: "I was particularly disappointed in the quality of the Delhi pitch - it wasn't up to Test match standard.

"India are always complaining they haven't got fast bowlers, but what can they expect? In all the years I have been coming here the pitches have never had any of the pace and bounce we have in Pakistan.

"They have a fast-bowling academy run on the advice of Dennis Lillee but it's little wonder they can't produce pacemen with the kind of wickets they prepare."

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)