TORONTO, Canada — Old habits die hard and getting used to new concepts in a new world can take a very long time, maybe forever unless those habits are allowed to continue unabated.These habits were outlandishly on display recently when the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) 2016 season got underway at the Ashtonbee Number Two ground here.
It also marked the commencement of the inaugural Elite Division and featured six-time successive Premiere League champions Hawaiian Arctic Cricket Club (HACC) and rivals Bawa Cricket Club.
Like in previous encounters, the game, played in brilliant sunshine, lived up to its expectations but no one present foresaw or expected what was to follow.
Needing a mere five runs to complete an emphatic six-wicket victory over their opponents after Bawa were restricted to an inadequate 150 all out, the latter proceeded to disrupt the game in full view of the sprinkling of spectators present.
It all started when an appeal for caught behind against HACC’s captain Hemnarine Chattergoon was turned down by the ruling umpire.
During the course of the next over, Chattergoon urged the fielding side to “get on with the game,” sensing they were still furious that the decision did not go their way.
Upon hearing Chattergoon’s comments, the bowler promptly pulled out one of the stumps from the end he was operating and charged towards him in a menacing manner. The captain, who was also the wicketkeeper, instead of trying to calm things down, added fury to the proceedings by kicking down the stumps at the striker’s end and he reportedly told the umpires that his team had conceded the game. The umpires subsequently awarded the game to HACC.
Sunday’s incident brought back memories of similar ones which had occurred and raises the question as to whether the SCA is taking appropriate steps to prevent similar occurrences and also whether the penalties meted out are adequate.
During the 2014 Premiere League final between HACC and East/West, a not-out decision for a vociferous caught-behind appeal off number three batsman Reyaz Prahalad, led to unsportsmanlike behaviour with the players storming and pleading with the umpire to change his original decision. When this was not accomplished the players turned their attention to the stumps at the batsman’s end, uprooting them in the process. The behaviour forced the umpires to award the game to HACC with the score on 27 for one in pursuit of the paltry 127 all out in 42.1 overs made by East/West. Former Guyana opener Krishna Arjune was undefeated on 14 when the game was abandoned.
The victory catapulted HACC to an unprecedented fifth consecutive title while soaring to 17 wins in a row this season.
A similar incident occurred in the 2011 final, which featured the same two teams, and according to a very reliable source the league apparently failed to act.
According to the source East/West vehemently protested a run-out decision which went against them, and again uprooted the stumps and even went further by allegedly making contact with one of the umpires. The source further pointed out that after intervention by the police, HACC agreed to continue the game although it was awarded to them and went on to win quite easily.
The source disclosed that the league failed to take any decisive action and this may have given East/West licence to continue their unsportsmanlike attitude.
The ball is once more in the SCA court and it’s interesting to see how it reacts to this latest misdemeanour. Unless drastic action is taken, these teams will feel they have the authority to continue their tirade. Over to you, SCA!