Revocation of Oval result will set bad precedent: Mushtaq

July 9th, 2008 Aimon · No Comments

Source: Express Cricket
Joining the chorus against the ICC’s decision to turn the controversial Oval Test into a draw, former Pakistan coach Mushtaq Mohammad said the game’s governing body had set a bad precedent.
“I fear they have set a bad precedent here. Whenever there is unpleasantness in future, teams will make a challenge after this decision,” Mushtaq told a cricket website.

Former Australian skipper Ian Chappell had also lashed out at the ICC for bending rules to placate Pakistan. Mushtaq said though as a Pakistani he was happy with the decision but still he won’t support it.

“I’m pleased as a Pakistani but it wasn’t right. My sympathies have always been with Pakistan over that match because they would probably have won it. However the laws say that whoever forfeits the Test is the loser and the umpires awarded the match to England, so I do not think the laws should be challenged,” he said.

The International Cricket Council at their recent Annual Conference changed the result of the troubled 2006 Test to a draw from an England win.

Mushtaq said the matter had been forgotten and everyone had moved on so he did not agree with dredging up these matters and setting bad principles.

He said changing the result of the Oval Test was similar to India pressurising the ICC to removing umpire Steve Bucknor from the Test series against Australia, a few months ago. “That was also wrong and set a bad precedent,” Mushtaq, who played 57 Tests for his country, said.