Just finished watching a news briefing on Geo, a local news channel, about tomorrow's second test at Kandy. Darrell Hair was originally in line to stand in this test. He, as many of you might know, is famous or infamous rather, for his aversion to spinners. He no-balled Murali in a test in Melbourne. And given Kandy is Murali's home ground, him standing in this test with Murali in line to play was always going to create an interesting situation. But his unilaterall withdrawl from the test right on the eve of its start has prompted speculation on him having received death threats.
Geo's reporter said "inside sources" are suggesting Hair received a phone call from some one threatening to kill him if he dared stand in the test. Hair him self has not specified any reasons for his withdrawal as yet and Steve Davis has been drafted in as replacement, but it's a dangerous sign if these rumors are true. There ought to be no room for umpire intimidation in the sport. If indeed Hair was threatened, I hope the men or women who were behind this are brought to task.
This is not acceptable at all. Human life is more important than somebody bowling no-balls or not. IT is purely debatable how clean Murali's action is. However, Darell had an opinion abt it and he let the whole world know about it. but Giving Death threats to an umpire because he noballed a bowler totally unreasonable and unacceptable and this should be treated as a crime.
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