After attacking the Australians for sledging, legendary Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar has said even Indians "sadly" are indulging in on-field personal abuse these days.
The Australians may be the worst behaved but other teams also needed to pull up their act, said Gavaskar and even criticised the umpires for turning "a blind eye" to such abuse.
"I would say the Australians have perhaps been more known for it (sledging), not that the other teams are not doing it," said Gavaskar in an interview to the Sydney Morning Herald.
"Maybe, not Bangladesh; maybe, not Sri Lanka. But even India, sadly, has resorted to personal abuse," said the Indian master, when asked if his recent comments on sledging in a speech at Lord's was directed only against Australia.
Gavaskar, who still holds the record for maximum Test centuries at 34, said he has nothing against banter "but what you see today is direct personal abuse at the opponent, which is what I feel sad about".
Gavaskar believes that Australia under Allan Border and Mark Taylor did not indulge in personal abuse but the same could not be said about the current Steve Waugh-led team.
"I think I played more than 10 or 15 Test matches against the Australians and excepting the last, in Australia in 1986, there was never any abuse directed at me.
"I think the Lillees and the Chappells, to a great extent were maligned by the media because I played a bit against them and I experienced no abuse whatsoever.
"So I certainly think it's more modern. There's been absolutely no complaint about the Australians under Mark Taylor, no complaints about the Australians under Allan Border. That tells you a story," he said.
Gavaskar said Waugh needs to have a "look at the reputation" his team has and do something about it.
"I think it is something Waugh can, being a great leader, do something about. He's doing such a tremendous work off the field with his charity work in India, so I think it's entirely possible for him to step in and tell the offenders -- and he knows the offenders because he has been playing with them for a long time -- it's entirely possible for him to tell them -- 'Guys, I don't think this is part of the game. I think you should cut it out'."
Gavaskar believes sledging can be stopped because it "is a deliberately applied approach only when things are not going well. It is not an everyday thing, it's not when they are doing well, and I'm not mentioning the Australians here. I'm mentioning all the teams."
The former Indian skipper did not agree to the view that sledging is okay since everyone does it.
"Absolutely not. I played for my country and I didn't hear personal abuse..... it is the 'you so-and-so and you this and you that' that goes on. That, to me, is objectionable and totally uncalled for."
It is not difficult to know what the players were saying to each other, said Gavaskar thanks to the advanced television technology.
"Thanks to television today and the close-up cameras, you can see for yourself. Even kids can make that out that what is being said out there aren't quotations from the Bible, the Koran and the Gita."
"The body language itself tells you. The characters of the game have always had something to say but it's been said with a touch of humour. I don't think there is anything funny in what is happening now. It's downright personal abuse and complete disrespect shown to the opponent."
Blaming the officialdom for failing to put a stop to this disgrace, Gavaskar said, "The umpires turn a blind eye and unless it is reported to the match referee he can't take action."
Gavaskar, however, said his views are meant to be a call for the players and not to be taken as a signal of intent in his role as chairman of the ICC's Playing Committee.
"It is a call for the players because you can make all the laws in the world but really it is for the players to actually do the right thing and I think the players have it in their hands to do it.
"Before every series we hear players say 'yes we know we can improve on our behaviour'. It means they know they are not doing the right thing and therefore it's entirely up to the players."
