Herschelle's dad slams ICC by Christo Buchner
Posted on Tuesday, January 16, 2007 - 22:49
The International Cricket Council are a bunch of weak-kneed administrators who want to cover up for their mistakes of the past by making an example of Herschelle Gibbs.
This scathing comment comes from Herman Gibbs, father of the South African batsman who has been suspended for two Tests by cricket's governing body.
Gibbs jnr was banned after the first Test in Centurion for referring to Pakistani supporters, who had abused him and his teammates, as "f...... animals".
Gibbs has appealed against the suspension and Justice Mervyn King has postponed Cricket SA's disciplinary hearing until the completion of the ICC's appeal procedure.
Herman Gibbs did not mince his words on Tuesday when he commented on his son's suspension.
"There are a bunch of incorrigible old men in the ICC. They were unable to do anything about match fixing and are too afraid to tackle any controversial matter properly.
"Just think about how they looked away when the South African players were the victims of racist remarks in Australia last year. Why did they not act then?
"Malcolm Speed (CEO of the ICC, who laid the charge against Gibbs) seems to have a vendetta against South African cricket and Herschelle is now a convenient stick for him to hit out with (at the SA team)."
Gibbs snr also accused Pakistan Cricket Board members of being a bunch of opportunists.
"They now want to be holy and hang Herschelle, but they allow two of their players (Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif) to play, even though they know they have used performance enhancers.
"What is worse," Gibbs asked, "what Herschelle did after he and his teammates were subjected to racism, or to field players whose performances have been influenced by drugs?"
"I just hope the Pakistanis do not bring their supporters to Cape Town, because we don't want them here," he said, referring to the third Test to be played at Newlands.
"To describe Herschelle as a racist, is laughable; it makes me angry. My children attended non-racial schools when most of their contemporaries were still in one-race schools. If there's one thing Herschelle is not, it's a racist."
Gibbs snr admitted that it was risky for his son to appeal against the suspension.
Brian Basson, of Cricket SA, on Tuesday explained that, after Gibbs had lodged his appeal, the ICC had 48 hours to appoint an appeals commissioner.
This opened the door for Gibbs to play in the second Test, which starts in Port Elizabeth on Friday.
If the appeals commissioner decides to extend the suspension, increasing it to more than two Tests and to include one-day internationals, Gibbs's participation in the World Cup tournament starting next month could be in doubt.
Chris Broad, who chaired the ICC hearing on Monday, decided on a two-Test suspension, but Gibbs could be worse off after an appeal hearing
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