Pakistan team racially abused in N Zealand

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was Tuesday planning to lodge a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) claiming the national team was racially abused on the final day of the third and final Test against New Zealand in Napier.

Mohammad Yousuf (C) captain of Pakistan celebrates as Pakistan players walk from the field after their win during the Second Test match between New Zealand and Pakistan at Basin Reserve on December 6, 2009 in Wellington, New Zealand.

PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said he is yet to receive any complaint from the team management regarding the ugly incident that marred what was an interesting final Test at McLean Park.

“I will only contact the ICC regarding the issue after getting a formal complaint from the team management,” Butt told Geo Super.

A brother of New Zealand MP Chris Tremain and his 17 friends chanted slogans of ‘Pakistani terrorists’ from a corporate box at the McLean Park, New Zealand media reports said.

A sign saying “no racist comments please” was displayed on the park’s scoreboard about 5 p.m.

However, Pakistan manager Abdul Raqeeb said that he and his players didn’t hear any racist remarks.

According to New Zealand media reports, a corporate box hired by a brother of National MP Chris Tremain was refused alcohol after racial abuse was hurled at Pakistani cricketers.

Mark Tremain, 38, younger brother of the Napier MP and son of rugby legend Kel Tremain, hired the family company Tremain Real Estate’s corporate box for themselves Saturday, the second day of the Pakistan-New Zealand test.

Spectator Bill Stacey, of Clive, said he was embarrassed by the group’s “drunken stupidity” and the racist comments, which included shouts of “Pakistani terrorists”.

Chris Tremain, who is a director and shareholder in Tremain Real Estate, said: “Clearly what happened is unacceptable.”

NZ Cricket public affairs manager Stephen Hill said staff took action as soon as they heard of racist insults. “Our security staff were on the ball and they took steps to resolve the situation, and got them to modify their comments.”

“Racist abuse was more common in other countries. It arises from time to time, but it’s not common here. We have messages to put on the board sometimes, or the speaker system. We want the sport to be free of abuse,” he said.

Pakistan is scheduled to leave for Australia Wednesday for a full series after ending its three-match Test series at 1-1.

ICC Limits Referrals

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has cropped its umpiring referral system to avoid frolicsome appeals in the final trial phase.

Following feedback from players and officials, teams will now get two instead of three unsuccessful attempts per innings to have decisions by on-field officials reviewed by the television umpire, an ICC statement said.

The system, which allows unlimited successful referrals, received mixed reviews when it was introduced in India’s 2-1 test series defeat in Sri Lanka last July.

“The fact that each side is now allowed only two unsuccessful requests … should mean that players will not make frivolous challenges and, instead, only seek a referral to decisions that, it is quickly clear, are highly likely to be incorrect,” ICC cricket general manager Dave Richardson said.

“By seeking to reduce these potentially contentious decisions we believe we can help remove a source of tension and frustration among players and spectators as well as any resultant pressure on umpires.”

The trimmed version will be used in England’s four-test series in West Indies starting on Feb. 4. If feedback from the first two games is positive, it will be used in Australia’s series in South Africa starting on Feb. 26.