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Originally Posted by Andy Mellon I think a slightly harsher punishment may have been in order |
Only if the various (comparatively minor) infractions of the spirit of cricket by the England players received some form of reprimand (eg a minor fine or a stern talking to) - however, when all the England and Australian players routinely get away scot-free, it would be wrong to throw the book (yet again!) at the poor lone South Asian! Yes Afridi deserves a punishment, but that punishment could only be six months or similar if, for instance, Harmison and Flintoff were banned from the next game for deliberately trying to injure the opposition batsmen - both suggestions, in my view, would be equally ludicrous.
I know you did not suggest six months in this instance Andy, but I am merely using that number as an example to clarify my view that the current penalty is appropriate, given the circumstances. It would, of course, be completely injudicious if the likes of Bell and Harmison received hefty fines or a small ban now, given that Afridi has not received a very long ban. Those two should merely be talked to and told to clean up their act.
Of course, any repeat offence by Afridi should be dealth with very severely indeed, and I am sure the provisions of the rules do stipulate that - there should be no sympathy for one who makes a habit out of this sort of thing.