Wisden.com readers react to Mike Denness's shock decisions Amit Gupta, USA
Someone should tell Mr Waugh that we are not asking for favours from ICC. Almost everyone who saw the video footage thought that Sachin was wrongly accused. No-one is saying that he did tamper with the ball and that he should be allowed to get away with it because of his reputation. These are definite signs of double-standards on the part of some individuals. As far as the bans and fine for excessive appealing go, it amazes me how blatantly individuals portray double-standards. If the Indians are at fault then most of the players from teams like Australia and South Africa should be fined every other match.

Pranav Rawal, Boston, USA
Where do Mike Denness and ICC get off with this ridiculous decision? Suspending Virender Sehwag for excessive appealing? Give me a break! What about Andre Nel clearly directing profanities at Sourav Ganguly in the one-day internationals when his bowling was carted all around the field? What about Makhaya Ntini clearly feigning a head-butt at Ganguly and the umpire laughing it off instead of warning Ntini? What about the theatrics employed by Shaun Pollock? This is a clear case of bias against the Indians. They should stage a walkout.

Saurabh Rajadhyax, USA

I hope ICC realise that they are being increasingly viewed as racist by many well-informed cricket-lovers in the subcontinent and cricket simply cannot afford this. Glenn McGrath makes a habit of abusing Indian players, particularly Sachin, but match referees ignore his antics all the time. In one Test Ricky Ponting verbally abused Javagal Srinath and got off scot-free – but in the same match Venkatesh Prasad got a suspended sentence for being exuberant. There is no consistency. It has gone on for far too long and Indian cricket as a whole is feeling persecuted.

Niloy Mukherjee, India

It is obvious that this is born out of racism and encouraged by the Indians' passivity over the years. Why is the same treatment not given to Shaun Pollock? Because his skin is white? What about Michael Slater on the India tour last year, or Allan Donald when Srinath hit him for a six last year in South Africa? After so many incidents over the years isn't it fair for us to believe that this is either to do with skin colour or even worse to do with money? After all there must have been a fair amount bet on Tendulkar not getting banned!

Senthil Ponnusamy, Canada

There are double-standards being adopted by match referees, with some players escaping and others being punished. I have no problem if Asian players are punished but at the same time so many non-Asians are escaping scot-free for much higher offences.

V Ramachandran, India

It is surprising that ICC does not have an appeal system in place against match referees' verdicts. Any player has to have a reasonable opportunity of defending himself and this has been denied by ICC. I don't know what the outcome will be of the current controversy, but the sooner ICC moves towards an appeal system the better it is for the game, ICC's image, the players and the public.

Does anyone apart from Steve Waugh actually agree with Mike Denness? E-mail us at feedback@wisden.com with your views.

Views expressed are those of the reader concerned and not of Wisden Online.

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