I fully agree with Prem Panicker on his rebuttal of the charges of World cricket domination by India by sheer money power. Also Mr. Buchanan has made it clear that the term monkey has no racial connotations even from the Auistralian angle. But then one thing every one conveniently forgets is that the issue is very similar to the Zhou Zhou Zidane and that Italian idiot Mataraziin the World cup football incident. It was a very clear case of provocation from Marazi and poor Zhou Zhou had to retire and go out of World Football with a ban against his name. Everyone talks about what Harbaja said to Symonds. But no one asks the question what in hell was Symonds telling Bhajji immediately before that. It is not for the Australians to talk holier than thou when it comes to calling names. Ask Murali or Monty Panesar and you will get bags full.Even Lou Vincent a New Zealander had gone on record how impossible it is to discipline the Australian Cricketers of today.Crown it all with what Hogg had called Anil Kumble and Dhoni. Kumble, as anyone who has played his game with him will vouch for, definitely would not have provoked Hogg like Symonds normally does. The slip cordon around the bat is usually a curse and swear mill in the Australian game. It is no excuse that they play there game in their domestic cricket also. If ICC does want to avoid such embarassment in furutre any personal conversation of this type on field should be banned and it should be closely monitored and enforced.
RE:The Monkey business
by Michael Mammen on Jan 14, 2008 04:04 PM Permalink
Something you may be unaware of:
Before every international series, each country provides the other with a list of "banned" words/phrases/sledges that must not be used (to allow for cultural differences).
I was actually joking when I suggested this a few days ago, but there you go!
Monkey appears on the list. Based on the current facts, Harbhajan must be cleared as there is no actual evidence beyond any reasonable doubt that he said it.
The B word does NOT appear on the list - the BCCI did not nominate it as a banned word.
That said, the simplest way to deal with it is to ban all sledging and let the bat/ball do the talking.
RE:The Monkey business
by raj on Jan 18, 2008 02:30 AM Permalink
absolutely! ban sledging. I think as far as the banned words list is concerned, its about racism, not abuses. abusing is not yet dealt by the ICC. they seem to agree with OZ folks that sledging is "gamesmanship". australia will not phase sledging out of their gameplan anytime soon. thats for sure.
