Umpires are God’s gift to cricket

THE EDITOR: It has been reported that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to include national selectors in the code of conduct banning public criticism of umpires or their decisions. ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said, “The Umpires have the most difficult job in the game and we must protect their decision from unwarranted criticism.” If that is not hogwash then the public confession by a top PNMite that, “All ah we thief,” was a misquote and they are saints.

It is far too often that umpires have been seen to make glaring dubious decisions and they all seem to have a pattern. Players have been banned from speaking to certain individuals but umpires can do so. Umpires, according to the laws of cricket, can reverse their decisions before the player leaves the field of play but has there been any man enough to do so. What we see is a make up some time in the game and it is obvious for anyone to see but the ICC chief. Cricketers have been accused of taking bribes, gambling on the game and other related illegal activities but apparently umpires are more equal than others.

The term Bin is used in all male Muslim names in Saudi Arabia identifying them as the son of “X.” It looks now as though ICC’s Malcolm Speed wants to rename the umpires as Steve Jesus-Bucknor, David Jesus-Shep-pard, Rudi Jesus-Bucknor, David Jesus-Sheppard, Rudi Jesus-Koertzen etc for they are all the sons of God and the cricketers are bastards.

LYSTRA LYTHE
Sangre Grande