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Common Cause/Sri Linkman's insist that
the
2007 World Cup winners, the Australian Cricket Team be
Disqualified and the Sri Lanka Cricket be declared as the winners
__________________________________________________________________
R. George Manuelpillai, CP AG/SS Tel: 2588578
85/25 Jawatha Gardens
Colombo 05 email: georgem@dialogsl.net
May 31, 2007
The President
The International Cricket Council
World Cup Tournament
P.O. Box 5000/70
Dubai,
United Arab Emirates
Dear Sir,
Subject: We the Common Cause/Sri
Linkman's do insist that the
2007 World Cup winners, the Australian Cricket Team be
Disqualified and the Sri Lanka Cricket be declared
as the winners, because Adam Gilchrist did cheat by
concealing a squash ball, a performance enhancing
device, inside his bottom hand and has admitted its use
and its performance at a post match, Press Conference.
With reference to my letter dated April 30, and in response to your
letter dated May 20, 2007, I write with regret not to agree with your
interpretation of the Laws as quoted by the ICC and the MCC "Gilchrist's
use of a squash ball was designed to alter the grip on the bat, whilst
at the crease, something which he is entitled to do under Law 3.6 (c),
which specifies what external protective equipment is permitted for
certain players". The MCC's interpretation of the Laws is beyond
comprehension, ridiculous, preposterous and only through the Court of
Law, the learned Judges would expose your ignorance.
The use of the squash ball, inside Gilchrist's batting glove is a
performance enhancer and your argument against it, is identical to an
athlete having being disqualified, detected with performance enhancing
drugs, anabolic steroids and/or human growth hormones in the system,
and the Athletes denial saying that he has taken a Panadol tablet only
to control his flue.
The Cricketing Peers both from Australia and England will be laughing
in their graves, listening to your learned interpretation of the Laws.
The cheating offence committed by Adam Gilchrist is very obvious,
serious and disciplinary action against the Australian Cricket Team
is warranted. For your information, the performance enhancing effects
of squash balls is being scientifically investigated at the Hong Kong
Polytechnic.
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Furthermore,
1. The MCC's view point revokes The Laws of Cricket 2000 Code 2 Ed.
2003, as a squash ball is not permitted, inside the glove. The MCC's
Law's Sub-Committee, chaired by Head of Cricket, John Stephens is biased
and arguments are based on excuses. The Committee has not interpreted
the Laws in neither a Legal nor ethical frame of mind. Instead, why
not the Committee ask a simple, basic question as to why the player
Gilchrist and/or the Australian Cricket Captain did not get prior approval
from the Umpires, as required?
2. Law 42 - Fair and Unfair play: 2000 Code, the 'Spirit of Cricket
Preamble' has been an important feature, providing the content in
which the game is intended to be played. The responsibility lies with
the Australian Cricket Captain for ensuring that play is conducted
with the spirit and tradition of the game
3. Implements of the game approved and/or permitted are the bat, the
ball, the stumps and the bails - period.
4. Law 3.6 ( c) relates to external protective equipment, and does
not
Legally relate to the case under review.
5. Adam Gilchrist, the opening batsman for Australia has admitted to
the correspondent, Bridgetown, Saturday, AFP of using a squash ball
concealed inside his bottom hand glove, a performance enhancing
device. Then, Gilchrist at a post match press conference had admitted
that it (squash ball) gave more power for his shots. Gilchrist's act
was
in addition premeditated, as he had practiced batting using the squash
ball.
6. Using a squash ball enclosed inside the glove without a prior approval
from the Umpires, is considered as an illegal act, resulting in a catapulting
and/or bionic consequences, thereby assisting Gilchrist to accumulate
an induced score of 149 runs in the one day cricket finals at Barbados.
7. Law 5 - It is against the Spirit of the Game to indulge in cheating
or
any sharp practice as defined in the 2000 Code Appendix.
7. If tampering with the cricket ball is prohibited; match fixing is
Prohibited; use of anabolic steroids and/or human growth hormones
are prohibited; then how come that enclosing a performance
enhancing Squash ball inside the glove is permitted. Isn't the
Committee blind and fooling itself?
Now, does the ICC and the MCC still believe that the squash ball was
a cushion, to alter Gilchrist's grip? If so listen to what Vijitha Herath
say:
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A scientific perspective and/or the Physics behind the squash ball as
expressed by Vijitha Herath of the University of Paderborn, Germany,
are written below:
a. A squash ball is a vulcanised rubber ball with a low reselience.
Unlike a cricket (leather) ball, it compresses when pressure is applied
on it. When the pressure is released, it takes its original shape. In
short, it acts like a spring ( e.g.: a motorcycle shock absorber).
b. So, what happens when a batsman has a squash ball in the palm of
his bottom hand? When a batsman swings the bat until it hits the ball,
there is pressure on his bottom hand. This pressure compresses the squash
ball thus storing energy in the ball similar to spring. Just after the
ball hits the bat (ball still touching the bat) this pressure starts
to relax while the bat is moving forward.
c. At the same time the energy stored in the squash ball releases its
energy to the bat in the form of kinetic energy. The result is that
the bat moves faster than normal (without a ball in the glove).
d. As a result, the release-speed of the cricket ball becomes faster
resulting in the ball traveling further before hitting the ground. Therefore
it results in more sixes and fours being scored.
e. The downside is because the bat travels faster than normal the batsman
might lose control of the bat. This happened once in the Adam Gilchrist's
f. In the innings when the bat slipped out of his hands and fell behind
the wickets. If you have any doubts please try to do it yourself ad
see the result.
g. In brief, Gilchrist's use of the squash ball allowed him to hit the
ball further in the field.
We the Sri Lankan Citizens do pray and believe that the ICC and the
MCC are now convinced by the above explanation/proof, that clearly gives
you an insight into the fact, beyond any reasonable doubt, that the
squash ball was used not purely as a protective gear, but as a performance
enhancer to a player who was playing his last World Cup innings and
did not care of the consequences, but was hell bent on rubbing some
glory upon himself.
I don't have to remind the ICC and the MCC, that the game of sport as
at present is more business oriented than a Olympic Spirit of
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sport itself, and the MCC did go to great lenghts using excuses, to
save their fellow comrades, the Australian Cricket Team. This practice
is not new to the field of sports. So please refrain from such nefarious
actions, that are detrimental to the 'Spirit of the century old Game'.
ICC and MCC's silence is nothing new, as several International Olympic
Committe (IOC) officials violated their oaths of the Olympic Charter,
during selection process by allegedlly accepting cash payment and improper
gifts from cities competing for the games. The scandal resulted in the
longtime IOC President Juan Antonio Samaruels, stepping down from his
post in July 2001 and the resignation of the IOC officials.
You are quite aware on the 'The focus on cheats' - a well organised
system ochastrated by team Managements and Medical Doctors. Incidents
of disqualification - Tour de France doping 'scandal' in 1998; at the
2004 IOC Games in Greece more than 20 athletes were disqualified for
drug violations; at the Sydney Olympic a Romanian Gymnastist was disqualified
for a stimulant in her system; and on and on.
In the case under review, where Adam Gilchrist did cheat the Laws, the
Australian Cricket Captain, its Team members, and the Australian Board
of Cricket should shoulder the blame/disgrace and be jointly and severally
be guilty.
Incidentally, The Sunday Observer carried a cartoon depiciting a 'Sports
Goods Shop' displaying a poster display ' squash balls - sold out'.
This cartoon speaks volumes. The squash ball syndrome is a house hold
word in Sri Lanka with the media giving it a full exposure. So, act
swiftly, otherwise most batsman are likely to carry a squash ball in
their batting glove.
For your thoughts: In a Cricket match India vs Bangaladesh, concluded
recently, four of the Indian batsman scored centuries ?
We the Sri Lankan Citizens do pray that the ICC and the MCC think wisely
and conduct discipilinary hearings against the opening batsman Adam
Gilchrist and the Australian Cricket Captain, for the use of a Performance
Enhancing Device, the squash ball inside his glove.
I keep reminding that the offence committed by Adam Gilchrist is very,
very serious and the Australian Cricket Team should be disqalified and
the Sri Lankan Cricket be awarded the ICC World Cricket Cup 2007 - Troopy.
We still believe that in spite of numerous complaints and petitions
to the ICC and MCC regarding this cheating no concrete action is expected.
So, we are writting to the International Sports Bodies to
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recognise the Squash Ball Syndrome seriously, and frame laws through
the services of a Anti Squash Agency similar to the Anti Doping Agency.
We pray that the ICC and MCC settle this case, quite amicably by holding
discipilinary hearings and then disqualifying the Australian Cricket
Team and awarding the ICC Criicket Cup 2007 to Sri Lanka Cricket. Failing
which, we are compelled to proceed with our Legal Proceedings.
The Legal Case and the Complaint for Damages and a Demand for Jury Trial
-"Common Cause/Sri Lankans as the Plaintiff vs the International
Cricket Council as the Defendant" is ready and awaits a Solicitor
from London to file the case in the London Courts of Law.
Soliciting your unbiased assistance,
Yours sincerely,
R. George Manuelpillai
A Cricketer and Enthusiast from Sri Lanka.
CC:
1. MCC - John Stephenson, Head of Cricket
2. Australian Cricket Board
3. International Olympic Committee - If no immediate action is taken
the squash ball syndrome will spread to athletes, high jumpers, long
jumpers and pole vaulters to enhance their performmance.
4. National Basket Ball Association - If no action is taken, the shoes
will be implanted with minature squash balls, to enhance their performance.
5. The Base Ball Federation - The pitchers and strickers are likely
to enclose a squash ball in their gloves to enhance their performance.
6. National Collegiate Athletics Association - If no action is taken,
the shoes will be implanted with minature squash balls, to enhance their
performance.
7. Sports - BBC - Please highlight the explotion of the squash ball
syndrome to other fields of sports.
8. Sports- CNN - Please highlight the explotion of the squash ball syndrome
to other fields of sports.
9. Lankaweb News
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