If we started bringing lawyers into on-field decision making, sport would die an instant death. Indeed, one of the reasons sport is such a great builder of character is that it teaches you to come face to face with adversity. And that includes on-field jurisdiction. That cannot change.

I know we all speak with the benefit of hindsight but it would have been so simple for Pakistan to play on, win the match and, since they are so certain of their honesty, win their appeal as well. They would have won a cricket match and they would have won the moral high ground.

There can be no more resounding victory than honour questioned and vindicated. But Pakistan chose to sit out and I’m afraid that was a huge failure of management. They needed a calm, shrewd mind in the dressing room and they were let down. The captain has to bear the brunt for that, but so must the manager. Now, even if they win the ball-tampering issue, they stand to lose much more for their subsequent action. Inzamam might even have to miss the Champion’s Trophy and that would be a shame.

By all accounts Inzamam is one of the game’s nice guys. He looks relaxed, at peace with the world, is respected and is one of the better batsmen the game has seen. Some of those are fine qualities for a leader but there are others too.

A leader has to see the larger picture, has to be completely conversant with the laws, he has to keep his head while all others are losing theirs. He cannot get carried away. When the dust settles on this one, Pakistan will have to find another leader and leave Inzamam alone to charm the world with the quality of his batting.

... contd.