Bhajji and the “Monkey"

I see this whole episode of racial slur by Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh in a different perspective. Australian cricketers and people have been rightly hurt by the “letting off” of Bhajji after he racially abused Andrew Symonds, and the way BCCI leashed its powers in the cricketing arenas to get the decision in its favor. If I see this issue in isolation, Yes Bhajji did wrong; Yes BCCI influenced justice!

But that’s not the way to see it. I see it as a part of the larger picture. A picture that was painted by the brush of the Australians themselves. They are the fathers of sledging. Today the same has come back to them, albeit in a nasty manner. For the fist time I see Australians in a helpless situation, with long faces. They seem to have understood that shouting on the pitch does no good and they can be at the receiving end at times.

However it is surprising that not many are taking the issue towards a discussion that makes contemporary cricket a better game. People are debating whether Bhajji used racial words or not, whether BCCI arm twisted the ICC or not, but hardly any discussion towards formally banning sledging on field. See this episode as a TRIGGER to stop it, and the time is ripe for it because now the Australians have realized that others can sledge… and sledge better!

This done, cricket will be a gentleman’s game once again.