By IANS,
Sydney : The Australian media sees Zaheer Khan’s confrontation with Matthew Hayden in the Mohali Test as not in the “spirit” Indian captain Anil Kumble talked of during the summer’s controversial series Down Under.
In a scathing attack on the Australian team after the Sydney Test, Kumble said “only one team played in the spirit of the game” after the home team’s controversial victory which saw questionable umpiring decisions.
Zaheer’s on-field behaviour in the Mohali Test, which India won by a record 320 runs was unwarranted, according to The Australian.
The fast bowler charged towards Hayden after the opener was dismissed in Australia’s second innings and had an animated chat. Zaheer was later fined 80 per cent of his match fee.
“India made a mockery of captain Kumble’s claim about playing in the spirit of game, with bowler Khan fined for abusing Matthew Hayden after he was dismissed,” the report said.
“When India lost a tight second Test in Sydney last January, Kumble created uproar when he claimed that only one team was playing in the spirit of the game. He was not talking about the Australians.”
The report said the Mohali incident reinforces India’s standing as the worst behaved team in the world over the past decade.
“While Indian cricketers often claim to be the aggrieved victim, India has had almost 50 separate International Cricket Council guilty verdicts against it over the past 10 years. This compares with Australia’s 30 or so.”