Gilchrist Slams Tendulkar In Autobiography
Memories of the controversial Sydney Test that threatened to derail India's tour of Australia earlier this year have been revived with Adam Gilchrist questioning Sachin Tendulkar’s evidence in the Harbhajan Singh racism case in his soon-to-be-published autobiography.
Gilchrist called his evidence a "joke" and said when Tendulkar told the first hearing that he could not hear Harbhajan said to Andrew Symonds, he was "certain he was telling the truth" because he was "a fair way away". But Gilchrist said during the appeal, Tendulkar said Harbhajan had used a Hindi word that sounded like monkey.
Harbhajan's three-Test ban for racial abuse of Andrew Symonds during the Sydney Test was overturned on appeal on the basis of oral evidence from Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Matthew Hayden and Tendulkar. Harbhajan had been earlier found guilty of the charge levelled by Ponting, who complained to the umpires that Harbhajan called Symonds a monkey. India threatened to boycott the tour if Harbhajan was found guilty of the racism charge but the tour went on after the appeal went in his favour.
"The Indians got him off the hook when they, of all people, should have been treating the matter of racial vilification with the utmost seriousness." Gilchrist said India's threat to boycott the tour was "a disgraceful act, holding the game to ransom unless they got their way".
Gilchrist also raised questions over Tendulkar's sportsmanship and said he was "hard to find for a changing-room handshake after we have beaten India".
"Harbhajan can also be hard to find. I guess it's a case of different strokes for different folks." Gilchrist said Australians played hard and were quick to shake hands and leave it all on the field.
Niranjan Shah, who was the BCCI secretary during the Sydney Test, said Gilchrist was looking for "cheap publicity" for his book. "First of all, the matter is over now," Shah told Mid-Day, a Mumbai-based tabloid. "Since I was actively involved in the whole matter as the BCCI secretary, I have seen how neutrally the ICC has conducted the hearing. Despite all this, if Gilchrist feels otherwise, then rather than him questioning someone else's credentials, we should examine his credentials. By doing all this, he is doing nothing but getting his image tarnished."
However, there is a complete sense of racism when we come across disciplinary hearings by the ICC conferred on Asian players. It’s really an unavoidable circumstance that Gilchrist has created, because he very well knows that the media will make a cake out of flour. And it’s really a shameful act of blemishes committed by a dutiful cricketer of Australia. He is always regarded as the cleanest chit among the Aussies after David Boon and as Niranjan Shah has pointed out it will definitely tarnish his image now.
By Arunava Das
Clash of cultures is what we need to be aware of. Being called a monkey is not a big issue here in India. But it is taken very seriously when someone slurs upon one's family.
ReplyDeleteHowever, its the opposite when it comes to the cultural nuances with regard to Australia. Slurs upon one's family or wives is taken in jest as a bar-room joke.
Being called a monkey, especially if one belongs to a native race, it becomes a crime.
Now with that being said, here is an open letter for Gilchrist:
Dear Mr. Gilchrist,
We take cricket here in India to our hearts. We celebrate an Indian win more than what we would normally do when we have a newborn in the family. Hopefully you can gauge the importance given to cricket. It is an integral part of our lives.
So when India loses, we take it upon ourselves, personally. So we are not much into shaking hands, especially after losing. Sore losers did you say? Fine. But you should see how we celebrate when we win. I guess you are sore winners.
An entire country erupts into euphoria when India wins and we are proud of it. Ohh..yes it happens only in India.
And finally something about honesty. Being in a perfect position to watch...what did you do about Ponting claiming a dropped catch. So much for being the honest one who walks and doesn't waits for umpire.
I can completely understand if you are banking upon your biography as an retirement plan.
Wishing you the very best,
Best regards,
RockSta
Like Will u treat my girl one day????
ReplyDeleteHarbhajan had obviously called Symonds "ma-ki-chut". "Ma-ki" sounds like "monkey" to an Australian. To an Indian "ma-ki-chut" is a much bigger insult than "monkey". To an Australian "monkey" is a racist insult stemming from Darwin's theory of evolution which states that monkeys are lower on the evolutionary ladder than humans. So to call someone a monkey is to say that they are inferior. Symonds probably got called "monkey" a great deal in his youth in Britain and Australia by his white classmates. The trouble is that the Indians feel bashful about explaining the misunderstanding because they don't want to use the word "ma-ki-chut" which as most Indians know means motherf*cker. Because of this Australians are convinced to this day that every Indian has been lying about the incident including Tendulkar. Not that it matters what they think...
ReplyDeleteHey Gururvardhan, Thanks for your support and comments glad you like the songs. You have a great blog. Btw squirrels are cute little critters, very distracting...lol
ReplyDeleteHey Anonymous Thanks for ur comments, But as one of the administrators I wud like 2 give u some advice. We all understand ur frustration with the Aussie team. All Indians are infuriated by the comments they make, not only Indians, all Asian cricket playing nations are really fed up with the Aussies and the ICC. As Sunny pointed out the other day, when we, the Asian players, comment on the field, we are held and taken to task. But when the Aussies do that they are pardoned. As if, whatever they do are correct and they have the right to do so.... This is really a RACIST ACT on the part of ICC to blame the Indian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan and Pakistani cricketers all the time. Have u ever seen or heard of any Australian bowlers being called "CHUCKERS".... and see hw much trouble they have given to the likes of Harbhajan, Muralidharan, Mohd. Rafique and Saqlain..... And we Asians have a heart to fight and that is why we take our game so seriously..... Whatever we do we do 100% and give 100%. That is our MOTO. And as many viewers in DIAL C FOR CRICKET in NEO SPORTS told the other day along with Arun Lal, Rameez and the host, I also agree that the fall of the AUSSIES are eminent in the near future. What do u say??? Do u agree???
ReplyDeleteAnd please refrain from languages that can harm the Media Responsibilities. As we are from Media, we do not want this to happen. Ur comment will not be deleted, but the words u have said are abusive on Indian Context and lets preserve our identity and culture. We will just star those words, except Ma-Ki will be retained.....
ReplyDeleteWhat u have said I really agree with u.... And that is what Harbhajan should have remarked.... And we all are on his side, will stand by his side.
But keeping in mind that the blog is being seen by the young community all over the world, we shud refrain from such languages that might harm the Indian integrity and culture....
So once again, a humble request, please refrain from using such languages.... U always have the liberty ro use stars.... Use that, people will understand....
Please comment, so that we know u have read our suggestions.,,,,
Here's another open letter which featured in the saturday's edition of The Times of India.
ReplyDeleteIt really makes for a great read...
An open letter to Adam Gilchrist
Dear Adam Gilchrist,
You may or may not know it, but you are one of the most admired cricketers in India. First, as the game’s greatest wicketkeeper-batsman who, on his day, could decimate any attack (including our own). Second, because you were ever the gentleman cricketer, a smiling assassin who played cricket fair and square, who walked without waiting for the umpire to give him out and was sportsmanlike to the core.
But now you have brought out your autobiography True Colours, and you have revealed, well, your true colours. For in it you have implied that our national icon, Sachin Tendulkar, is dishonest and a bad sport. We might buy your book to read more of these titillating bits, but sorry, we won’t buy your arguments. You know why? It’s because you start with a handicap; we know our Tendulkar, and know him well. Your bigger handicap, and there is no polite way of saying this, is this: you are an Australian cricketer.
For years, Australian cricketers have touted some self-serving beliefs. One is that they aren’t arrogant, just self-confident. The second is that the team’s sledging isn’t obnoxious, just good-natured banter. The third, and the most convenient, is (to quote you) ‘‘In the Australia mentality, we play it hard and are then quick to shake hands and leave it all on the field.’’
How very nice for you! Abuse your opponents on the field, pass comments about their spouse’s sex lives (when a Graham Thorpe is batting and news has leaked out his wife is having an affair, say to him. Hey Graham, who’s your wife sleeping with tonight?), say rude things about a batsman’s parentage (or the lack of it), and leave it all on the field? Then shake hands, all is forgiven, no offence meant, let’s chill over a beer?
And if you really do believe in leaving it all on the field, how come after so many months Monkeygate still rankles? Shouldn’t you be saying, ‘Hey Bhajji, what a great joke, no offence taken, now how about a lager?’ You won’t say that because for an Australian cricketer there are two standards, one for themselves, another for the rest of the world. When the contentious Sydney Test was over, and the Indian captain—in an act of supreme sportsmanship—put out his hand, there were no Australian hands around to shake. Why be hypocritical and go looking for Tendulkar’s hand to shake in the dressing room later?
It’s about time you looked truth in the face. You could start with the incident when your vice-captain Michael Clarke claimed a catch in the slips and your captain Ricky Ponting confirmed to the umpire it was a fair take, though replays have shown that the ball had first hit the ground. Would you have left that incident on the ground if two opposition players had been involved instead? Something tells me that you would not. Something tells me that you would have had something to say about different cultures and called your opponents downright cheats.
Anil Dharker