'I don't recognise any discernible racism in terms of administering and managing cricket'
Denis Rogers, the chairman of the Australian Cricket Board
On January 3, 2000, Shafqat Rana the secretary of the Pakistani Cricket Board, told the Australian Broadcasting Authority that he believed a ban placed on Pakistan fast bowler, Shoaib Akhtar was racially motivated.
This created immediate controversy within the Australian media and led to a pointed denial and a request for specific evidence of bias from Australia's international umpires.
Background
The ACB has as part of cricket's code of conduct formal regulation against both religious and racial vilification.
Despite this, the issue has rarely been openly canvassed. It is an accusation which appears to be made more directly in newspapers on the sub-continent, than it does in Australia.
It has occurred particularly because Australian umpires appear more ready than those in England to call visiting bowlers for chucking. This, it has recently been suggested may be racially motivated.
In England it became an issue when the suggestion was made that cricketers who were not British nationals might not have the same enthusiasm for the game as those born in the country for whom it was part of their cultural tradition. This was seen by some as thinly veiled racism.
Internet links
There is a number of Internet sites relevant to this issue. It has been addressed more on overseas sites.
The British Hit Racism for Six site was established to counter claims that cricketers of diverse racial origins were less suited to playing cricket. The site promotes a Declaration Against Racism in Cricket.
It can be found at http://www-aus3.cricket.org/link_to_database/SOCIETIES/ENG/HR46/
The Hong Kong Standard Tigernet has a January 14, 1996, article looking at a supposed earlier instance of racially biased rulings by an Australian umpire.
The article is titled It's just not cricket. It can be found at http://www-ieem.ust.hk/dfaculty/ravi/cricket/standard.html
The Pakistani newspaper, The Tribune, has an on-line edition and archives.
On May 9, 1999, the newspaper carried an article titled World Cp Mind Gmes, written by L H Naqvi.
The article looks primarily at the psychological 'games' played on and off the field by particular teams in order to secure an advantage.
What makes it interesting in the context of racism is that it presents cricket as a virtual war between white and coloured nations.
The article can be found at http://www.tribuneindia.com/99may09/sunday/head1.htm
Arguments suggesting Australian cricket is racist
The accusation of racism leveled against Australian cricket appears to go back to 1996.
In a article published in The Australian on January 4, 2000, Mike Coward comments 'This can all be sheeted back to the Boxing Day Test four years ago when umpire Darrell Hair publicly humiliated Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan by calling him for throwing.'
Mike Coward suggests that the result of this incident was the growing current perception that there is 'an anti-Asian sentiment in Australian cricket', especially among Australian umpires..
Mike Coward refers particularly to a belief among Pakistani and Indian players and officials that 'Australian umpires are aggressive interventionists'.
The accusation has further been made that the interventionism is directed particularly against players from Asia.
On January 3, 2000, Shafqat Rana the secretary of the Pakistani Cricket Board, told the Australian Broadcasting Authority that he believed a ban placed on Pakistan fast bowler, Shoaib Akhtar was racially motivated.
Shafquat Rana claimed that accusations of chucking, as with Muttiah Muralitharan and Shoaib Akhtar, were directed against Asian players, not against Australian or English bowlers.
Shafquat Rana stated, 'It's only against the Asian cricketers ... why not against the others?
Why not against Brett Lee when he bowled the faster ones? Why not Ian Meckiff, why not Darren Gough?'
A similar point has been made by Ross Grainger, in a letter published in The Australian on January 10, 2000.
Mr Grainger stated that a number of incidents this season 'could easily be interpreted as expressing a bias in favour of members of the Australian cricket team'.
Mr Grainger went on to claim, 'It's not just the bowling action of Shoaib Akhtar that's suddenly been found suspect.
It's the nature and number of appeals by Indian and Pakistani bowlers against Australian batsmen which are invariably turned down while a far greater percentage of appeals by Australian bowlers seem to be supported by the umpire.'
Australian spectators have also been accused of racial prejudice.
This point has been made by Jess Fink in a letter published in The Australian on January 6, 2000.
Ms Fink states, 'As an experienced traveller in India and a lover of Indian culture, I was appalled by the crass, insensitive and racist shenanigans of some parts of the crowd at the recent India versus Australia Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Since when is it "harmless fun" or "a bit of a lark" to rub one's face with shoe polish and don a "turban"?'
Some Australian cricketers have also been criticised for excessively aggressive play that could be seen as racist.
This point has also been made by Jess Fink.. Ms Fink states, 'Australia has a poor track record in hosting teams from the subcontinent [India and Pakistan].
They have been treated to racist abuse from spectators and mercilessly sledged on the field by alleged sportsmen such as Glenn McGrath.'
An incident involving Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath has attracted particular criticism.
It has been described in the following manner in an article by Martin Blake, a sports commentator for The Age.
Blake wrote, 'Pumped up at his dismissal of India's captain, Sachin Tendulkar, McGrath ran off his line and screamed in the direction of the batsman as he departed.
The Australian paceman was later cautioned by referee Ranjan Madugalle and umpires Ian Robinson and darrell Hair, but he escaped a report for any breach of the International Cricket Council's code of conduct.'
The incident has attracted attention on two counts. Firstly McGrath's behaviour has been condemned as inappropriate and potentially racist, while the penalty he received has been condemned as inadequate and likely to fuel suggestions that Australian cricketers are more leniently treated.
The Age, in an editorial published on January 7, 2000, stated, 'The Australian players would do well to reassess their behaviour.
For too long Australian players have let themselves down during tours of the sub-continent by sticking to their hotels, failing to expose themselves to foreign cultures and complaining too persistently about the deprivations involved.
Little wonder that some Indians and Pakistanis, and probably Sri Lankans, are suspicious of us.'
Commenting specifically of the McGath incident, the editorial stated, 'As for bowler Glenn McGrath's eyeballing of Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar, it was something of which the Australian should be ashamed.'
It has been suggested that the aggressive, if not rude, behaviour of some Australian cricketers contributes to a general atmosphere of hostility which can influence how unfavourable umpires' rulings are accepted.
This point has been made in an editorial published in The Australian on January 8, 2000.
The editorial states, 'When Australian players sledge, glare and intimidate, the harsh verdicts from umpires and referees become ensnared in the general picture of unfairness.'
The same point has been made in a letter from David Everard published in the Age on January 8, 2000.
Mr Everard states, 'Lack of respect for the opposition's players and teams leads to exactly the lack of goodwill now exhibited by Pakistan in charging the ICC with racial bias in the Shoaib Akhtar controversy.'
Arguments suggesting Australian cricket us not racist
Australia's cricketers, the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) and Australian umpires have all been defended against accusations of racism.
With regard to Australia's cricketers, Chip Le Grand, in an article published in The Australian on January 8, 2000, claimed 'Today's Australian cricketers are more aware of racial and cultural sensitivities than their predecessors. The ACB demands it under its racial and religious vilification code. The current team has sat through education sessions conducted by the Victorian Equal Opportunity Commission. Besides which, sponsors expect it.'
The racially tolerant behaviour of some Australian cricketers has also been noted.
It has been claimed by Martin Blake in an article published in The Age on January 8, 2000, that the Australian captain, Steve Waugh has given 'much time, energy and money to a leper colony in India.'
Martin Blake also claimed, 'Waugh departed from the traditional behaviour of players when, on tour, he took time to investigate the cultures of different countries. Soon the photographs and stories he gathered became best-selling books'
It has further been noted that the on-field behaviour of some Australian cricketers, which has been condemned as offensive, is not racially based. Rather, it has been argued, it is the 'hard-edged' aggressiveness that is required to be successful in contemporary cricket.
Martin Blake, writing in The Age, has claimed, 'We want a great team, and a nice team. The wish does not match the realities of modern sport ... Australian cricket teams are full of hard men, and that suits the team environment. Mere skill is no longer seen as sufficient.'
Chip Le Grand has further claimed that the majority of the incidents that have triggered allegations of racism this summer have involved neither Australian players nor the Australian Cricket Board.
Mr Le Grand states, 'The catalysts for this summer's discontent have all been beyond the control of the Australian players and to a large degree, the Australian Cricket Board.'
Mr Le Grand goes on to note that , 'Pakistani bowler Shoaib Akhtar [was] ... cited to the International Cricket Council by New Zealand match referee John Reid [and] stood down from international cricket by an ICC adjudication panel'.
Mr Le Grand further notes that it was a 'Sri Lankan match referee Ranjan Madugalle [who handed] ... Australian bowler Glenn McGrath a lesser penalty than Indian Venkatesh Prasad for aggressively sending off batsmen'.
According to this line of argument, a majority of the perceived injustices that have lead to accusations of racism being raised against Australia this cricket season have not actually involved either Australian players nor the Australian cricket administration.
It has further been claimed that Australia's umpires are not racist.
Robert Craddock, The Herald Sun's cricket commentator, has defended Australia's umpires against allegations of racism.
Mr Craddock has stated, 'The suggestion that Australia's umpires are racist or biased has deeply offended them.'
Robert Craddock has defended Australian umpire Darrell Hair particularly. Mr Craddock has claimed of Hair, 'As a youngster growing up in rural New South Wales, Hair lived next door to a family of Aboriginals and mixed freely with them.
He also recently visited Malaysia to lecture about umpiring and he has friends in India and Pakistan.'
The Australian in its editorial of January 8, 2000, also defended Australia's cricket umpires.
The editorial stated, 'The reality is that they [umpires] are human and do make mistakes, and the errors and controversial calls go against Australians as much as others.'
On January 7, 2000, Australia's five international cricket umpires presented a joint written statement to the Pakistani and Indian team managements.
The statement asked that either specific allegations of bias be brought against them or the matter be dropped.
Malcolm Speed, the Australian Cricket Board's chief executive, has stated, 'Any accusations of bias against our umpires which are able to be substantiated with facts are treated seriously and are investigated.
There's been not one shred of evidence or hard facts to support the claim of bias.'
Finally, it has been suggested that the allegations of racial bias made by some Pakistani and Indian officials and cricket journalists may have grown out of either disappointment or a desire to receive more favourable judgements.
According to this line of argument, some Pakistani officials and commentators may have felt that linking concerns about Shoaib Akhtar's action with suggestions of racism may have won more lenient treatment for the bowler.
It has also been suggested that the successfulness of the current Australian cricket team may have provoked officials of other teams to use special pleading to account for their losses.
This point was made in an editorial published in The Age on January 7, 2000.
The editorial stated, 'Players and officials from elsewhere can be expected to indulge in a little spin-doctoring to make themselves fell better.
Australia is unquestionably the No. 1 cricket team in the world and that is sure to antagonise other cricketing nations, which naturally desire the mantle for themselves.'
The same point was put in an article written by Martin Blake and Christopher Kremmer and published in The Age on January 5, 2000.
The article states, 'The Australian view is that India and Pakistan are making excuses for their heavy defeats this season.'
Further implications
It seems highly unlikely that there will be further media discussion of possible racism in cricket in the immediate future.
The Australian Cricket Board has chastised the five Australian national umpires who issued a public statement effectively defending themselves against accusation of racism. It has made it plain that there are to be no further pronouncements of this kind.
At the same time match referee Cammie Smith has instructed Indian, Australian and Pakistani cricket teams to get on with playing the game and to make no further public statements on the matter.
The immediate trigger for the dispute also seems to have been removed as Shoaib Akthar was first cleared to play one-day cricket and has since had extensive remedial work on his action to allow him to play within Test series. To the extent that the Pakistani accusations of racism were tactical they appear to have been successful.
To the extent that they were based on a 'perceived reality' they have increased the potential for unruly crowds both within Australia and when the Australian cricket team plays overseas.
They have also increased the pressure under which all umpires, the ICC and the ACB operate. There is now an even greater requirement than before that decisions be seen to be just and unbiased.
In the long term the accusation of racism also appears to have implications for both the composition and the on-field conduct of the Australian cricket team.
Accusations of racism seem to be as much about appearance as reality. It may be, as has been claimed, that the potential 'racism' of some members of the Australian cricket team is no more than aggressive competitiveness.
However, one of the factors which contributes to a possible appearance of racism is the relative racial homogeneity of the Australian team.
Martin Flanagan, in an article published in The Age on January 9, 2000, asked, 'Is there another major sport which, at its elite level, reflects as little of the rich mix of contemporary Australian society as cricket?'
Flanagan goes on to note, 'Rugby league has incorporated a major Pacific influence, Australian football has become a showcase for Aboriginal players as well as numerous migrant cultures. Tennis has names like Philippoussis and Dokic.
The Australian cricket team still represents the same social groups [and, by implication, the same racial groups] that it did 100 years ago.'
It has been suggested that this racial homogeneity will ultimately become a handicap; it may already be becoming one. Australian cricket's spectator base and the base from which potential national cricketers will be drawn is increasingly multi-racial.
Martin Flanagan notes, 'The reality of Australian cricket as it is now being played in the suburbs, if not the country, is that it is a multi-racial sport.'
Flanagan concludes that the game needs 'to cross cultural borders and address its actual audience.'
It seems likely that if the Australian cricket team does become more racially diverse the appearance of racially based hostility toward opposing teams would largely evaporate.
Sources The Age
3/1/00 page 1 (Sport supplement) news item by Martin Blake, 'McGrath is warned but escapes report'
5/1/00 page 1 news item by Martin Blake and Christopher Kremmer, 'Clean sweep fails to brush aside cricket's ugly divide'
5/1/00 page 1 (Sports supplement) comment by Patrick Smith, 'Umpires thrown to the wolves'
6/1/00 page 1 news item by Phil Wilkins, 'Lee's action in the clear'
6/1/00 page 1 (Sports supplement) news item by Phil Wilkins, 'Lee action cleared'
7/1/00 page 10 editorial, 'Cricket caught in the age of spin'
8/1/00 page 3 (News Extra section) comment by Martin Blake, 'The ugly Australians?'
8/1/00 page 6 (News Extra section) letter from David Everard, 'Sledging: it's just not cricket'
8/1/00 page 20 (News Extra section) news item by Phil Wilkins, 'Umps: put up or shut up'
9/1/00 page 13 (Sports supplement) comment by Martin Flanagan, 'A culture in crisis'
10/1/00 page 1 (Sports supplement) news item by Phil Wilkins, 'Akhtar return fuels storm'
The Australian
4/1/00 page 10 letters from Jai Padmanabhan and Gary Clarke, under the general heading, 'Declarations best made on the field'
4/1/00 page 26 news item by Peter Krupka, 'Shoaib told to stay as Pakinstanis challenge Lee'
4/1/00 page 26 comment by Mike Coward, 'Perceived injustice stifling game'
5/1/00 page 19 news item by Chip Le Grand, 'Emotions triggered by Hair'
6/1/00 page 10 six letters under the heading, 'Stubborn stain on our cricket flannels'
8/1/00 page 20 editorial, 'Our sporting image needs more polish
8/1/00 page 25 comment by Chip Le Grand, 'Bat and ball bigotry'
8/1/00 page 30 cartoon, 'Well. There's your evidence in black and white'
10/1/00 page 12 letters from Ross Grainger and Dianne Knight under the general heading, 'Disquiet around the field'
10/1/00 page 23 news item by Andrew Ramsey, 'Angry ACB to umpires: tell us why'
The Herald Sun
5/1/00 page 67 news item by Mark Skelsey, 'Race debate heats up'
5/1/00 page 67 comment by Robert Craddock, 'Taunts like grenades in a battle zone'
6/1/00 page 18 editorial, 'Chucking the racist ball'
6/1/00 page 93 news item by Mark Stevens, 'ACB backs umps as debate rages'
6/1/00 page 93 news item by Andrew Dawson, 'Racism nonsense'
8/1/00 page 32 comment by Robert Craddock, 'Cricket's whipping boys cry enough'
8/1/00 page 33 news item by Robert Craddock, 'Put up or shut up'
9/1/00 page 3 (Sports supplement) news item by Robert Craddock, 'Shut up ... and get on with the game'
10/1/00 page 35 news item, 'Umps' defence unnecessary, says Kapil'
12/1/00 page 75 news item by Robert Craddock, 'Black mark for vocal umpires'
12/1/00 page 75 news item by Robert Craddock, 'ACB into bat for team'
