Akram calls Aussies 'cry babies'

[DesiChap]

Akram calls Aussies 'cry babies' January 07, 2008 FORMER Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has reportedly accused Australia of behaving like "cry babies" for lodging a racism report against India's Harbhajan Singh during the second cricket Test at the SCG. Harbhajan was suspended for three Tests after being found guilty of racially abusing Australia's Andrew Symonds for calling him a "monkey". India plan to appeal against that verdict and have suspended their tour pending the outcome. But Akram accused Australia of double standards, as they were "the worst in the world" at sledging opponents. "I have played a large part of my cricket against the Aussies. Sometimes they said stuff, sometimes we did and then we moved on," Akram told India's Hindustan Times newspaper. "We did not behave like cry babies and drag it to the officials ... They do it constantly and much more than anyone else. So how they can go out and complain about other teams, I don't know." Indian great Kapil Dev was also surprised by the Harbhajan verdict. "It is surprising and unfair. The Indian team is one of the most gentle teams in the world," he told the Hindustan Times. Indian media reacted with anger towards Harbhajan's suspension and the standard of umpiring in the second Test, and also questioned the sportsmanship of the Australian team. As effigies of umpires Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor burned across India, the Deccan Herald said Anil Kumble's side was on the wrong end of eight umpiring mistakes, which had affected the outcome. "India have every reason to come away from the 122-run defeat to Australia in the second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground believing that justice is a word which exists only in the dictionary," it said. "Sure, there will be the odd umpiring error or two, but that is only to be expected because umpires are human, too. "It is when the incompetence of the umpires is so marked that their decision-making becomes the decisive factor, as happened at the SCG, that tempers start to flare up." The Indian Express was similarly critical of the umpiring and ran the headline: "Team India c Benson b Bucknor". The Mumbai Mirror was critical of Australia's sportsmanship during the final day. The newspaper ran the headline "Integrity Be Damned" above three photographs, one which showed Adam Gilchrist claiming a catch off Rahul Dravid, another of Ponting signalling to Benson that Michael Clarke had caught Sourav Ganguly, and one of the Australians celebrating victory. The Indian Times also accused Australia of being "poor winners" and concocting the racism charge against Harbhajan to take the focus off the umpiring mistakes made against India. "Clearly, Ricky Ponting's men are poor winners," it said. "They have been stunned by India's resilience and are unable to accept that for the second time their victory streak might be halted by the same team. "The BCCI is already suggesting the charges are nothing but mind games to detract from the umpiring gaffes." The Indian Times also questioned whether Clarke would be charged with dissent for standing his ground when clearly caught at slip, and attempting to cheat when he claimed the catch off Ganguly. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23018793-23212,00.html

[Ram]

I am sure many Asians will find their voice in this moment of controversy.

[suraj]

Aussies are cheats and unworthy of being called a great team- no matter how many victories are scored by them

[Sachinism]

everyone that follows cricket, knows what they aussies are like and yet we still have this BS

[gs]

I dont doubt Aus for their talent and cricketing prowess, but are very poor in sportmanship and the most terrible part is that they get away with it every single time!!

[Guest dada_rocks]

Chanderpaul said recently if 50% of 50/50 decision goes in other teams favour then many are capable enough to beat aussies.. Right now 100% 50/50 decison and to add some howlers goes in their favour.. Sangakara had grounded their boat in last match till umpires came to rescue..... Then we just saw the farce in sydney

[Anakin]

Yep, any decent test team will give these so called great team run for their money if umpiring is fair enough.