Rana says England 'can't win'

Pakistani umpire Shakoor Rana said he was ready to give a warm welcome to English cricketers and bury the painful memories of a decade ago.

"What happened 13 years ago is the bitter past and now I welcome England cricketers with an open heart," Rana said in an interview with AFP.

Rana, 62, now retired, was involved in an on-field shouting match with England captain Mike Gatting when England last toured Pakistan in 1987.

The England team arrives on Monday to play a three-match Test and a one-day series.

"It would have been better had they appointed Gatting their manager, I am still ready to host him," said Rana, who umpired 15 Tests and 19 one-day internationals. "I used to admire his technique against the spinners and he could have been more helpful for new players who will struggle against Pakistani spinners."

Gatting, sacked as Middlesex director of coaching last August, recently admitted in a radio interview he was at fault in 1987. Of the incident, Rana recalled: "Gatting moved a fielder behind the batsman which was against the law and when I called it a dead ball he abused me which was against the values of this gentleman's game."

He invoked Law 42 on the grounds of unfair play but the ensuing abusive confrontation between him and Gatting resulted in the loss of a day's play in the Faisalabad Test. "When I told him that it was against the rules, Gatting retorted saying 'We made the rules'," Rana said.

The Pakistani umpire demanded an apology from the England captain and the stand-off almost resulted in the tour being cancelled. "I took the stand to safeguard the image of the man in white coat. Even the English media supported me and I succeeded," Rana said. Intervention from the Foreign Office, the Pakistan Cricket Board, and the Test and County Cricket Board, as well as a statement from Gatting saved the tour.

Rana's two brothers and two sons played for Pakistan, while Rana himself is a former first class cricketer.

An assistant director of sports for Pakistan Railways, Rana disapproves of the idea of a third umpire and using television. "The TV umpire has taken the charm out of the game, because batsman can't get the benefit of the doubt," he said. "Why not use a machine to count the deliveries?"

Rana feels Pakistani umpires do not get their dues.

"The International Cricket Council is biased and that's why it doesn't appoint Pakistani umpires. We are not behind David Shepherd and Steve Bucknor who have been highlighted and made famous."

Mail Cricket Editor