Ranjan Madugale seems to have drawn the curtain on the hairraising Oval controversy of alleged ball tampering by the Pakistan cricket team. The allegation was dismissed, as no consistent scars were found on the ball. Neither Mr. Hair nor the ICC could produce any logical evidence. So Mr. Hair could not prove his point and was responsible for the ignition of a controversy, which ultimately led to abandonment, and forfeiture of the Test by Pakistan, for the first time in the history of Test cricket. Inzzy, however, got a 4 ODI ban for taking the game into disrepute in staying away with his team after tea on the fourth evening, although Pakistan were favourably placed to win the Test. Both Inzzy and Hair won't be seen in the Champions Trophy. But the ball tampering allegation was finally dismissed. Can the Pakistan captain be held responsible for the whole episode?

Any way world cricket will be better served if ICC scans the loopholes in its rules and is very meticulous in selecting an elite panel of umpires. There have been many diabolic umpiring decisions off late, which incidentally went against the underdogs.

Some allegations are also raised about racism in cricket which must be dealt with seriously so that these are nipped in the bud. Saleque Sufi, On e-mail