Whisper media targets Sachin

Whisper media targets Sachin
ASHISH SHUKLA

SYDNEY, JANUARY 6: Sachin Tendulkar will be keeping an eye on a few disturbing developments as he leads his team into the triangular series against Australia and Pakistan next Sunday.

His reaction on the sawdust issue to the Indian reporters was first distorted by the media here and now the cry has started for his head, so to speak.

Tendulkar was asked by Indian mediamen on the second evening of the Sydney Test about his animated conversation with the two umpires -- Darrell Hair and Ian Robinson -- in the middle and he explained he had requested sawdust to be put on the slippery spots behind the wickets which the umpires refused.

Even though not a single Australian journalist was present at the briefing, the local media here claimed Tendulkar was very angry which he was not and that the Indian captain was upset why the request had been turned down.

This is not true. Tendulkar was not upset nor did he react angrily. It is on the audio tapes of Indian mediamen which could be the crucial evidence as thewitch-hunt against the Indian captain could turn serious in the near future.

The Sydney Morning Herald this morning claimed Tendulkar could be in trouble. The newspaper, quoting a few officials, believed action was warranted against Tendulkar immediately after his comments became public knowledge. Under International Cricket Council (ICC) rules, action can be initiated against a player if he chooses to criticise or comment on umpires or match referees.

It will be a distortion of truth if it comes to that since Tendulkar never complained. He only explained, on being asked, what transpired between him and the umpires.

Whipped up media campaign, presumably in collusion with some officials here, has already claimed Shoaib Akhtar this summer. Another such orchestration has led to the Australian media drumming its chest in triumph today when it said the officials in the Sydney Test have cleared Brett Lee of any suspicion of throwing.

The newspapers reported match referee Ranjan Madugalle had clearedLee after putting him under the microscope.

All the papers were full of cheer claiming the former Sri Lankan Test captain and umpires Robinson and Hair watched the speedster in slow motion and found no justification for any action to be taken against him.