There was a time when cricket was a gentlemen’s game with appropriate conduct on and off the field.

However, the game is evolving into a autocratic model of modern-day sport where money, race and oppression are the three more important things that matter.

The ICC cares less about how its officials behave or perform with umpires seemingly part of an elite panel from all over the world. Instead of taking action, the ICC never does anything but warn anybody who tries to speak about.

'As I write the captain of India is asking his team to learn the art of sledging'


Take the issue of sledging - ICC officials seem to crave it. One official alluded to the game needing characters as some kind of 'excuse' for this practice.

Sledging is not just about one-upmanship, instead it is now a forum for players to discuss personal comments and indulge in race accusations with the ensuing media row following.

And guess what, as I write the captain of India is asking his team to learn the art of sledging. It is getting to be a dirty game, like cycling where everyone seems to take drugs. Now we even expect cricketers to psyche out players with vicious comments.

The great Ian Chappell says the game is a great leveller - you get a bad decision one day and next time it will even itself out. But in his day there was inferior technology compared to now.

Also there is no lateral thinking. I don’t believe in the umpire referring all decisions upstairs. Why can't decisions be sent down to the umpires on the field from the TV official?

Yes, I am a random fan, someone who loves the game. And I'm asking the game's governing body to take some responsibility at how they are managing one of the world's biggest sports.