A Letter to the ICC: Funk it up!

Subject: "PLEASE FUNK IT UP"

Dearest ICC,

If you're a music lover or a Mark Ronson/Bruno Mars fan the phrase 'Uptown Funk' should ring a bell.But considering the only music that bowls you over is probably the one that is music to your ears, the chances of that recollection seem dim. So, let me suggest you have a listen to the song 'Uptown Funk' before you read on.(Wahab Riaz, Shane Watson Fined for Verbal Spat)

Done? (How will I ever know but let's assume you have)

Now, I would like to congratulate you on pulling off a fantastic World Cup. Secondly, may I ask you why you're stalling, disturbing or curbing the potential explosion of the love for the game of Cricket? For the first time this World Cup, a battle of bat and ball had ensued in which the cherry took the juice out of the willow. Haven't you had enough of the bat dominating the ball already? You've had two double hundreds in this World Cup where in the previous 10 editions you had none. On the rare occasion that the man throwing the ball was inspired or infuriated enough to change the balance of the game, you decided to nip 'the birth of fast bowling at this World Cup' in the bud. Wahab Riaz was handed a 50% match fee fine while Watson was handed a 15% match fee fine. This fall in line or get a fine attitude could be altered just a tad bit, no?(Wahab Spell Was Nasty: Watson)

Sure you have decided to clamp down hard against banter, words, talk, misbehaviour and you made that absolutely crystal clear before the tournament. But shouldn't sense and sensibility prevail in certain circumstances?

What did Wahab Riaz or Shane Watson really do? He gave it back to the Aussies, one in particular, Shane Watson. He did what is expected of fast bowlers. He did what is supposed to make this game exciting. He did what has made fast bowling exhilarating since time immemorial. He did not abuse. He just produced edge of the seat stuff. It was only high spirited gamesmanship and too soft to require a fine.

But just in case you thought this is a cricket crazy fan turned journalist venting his personal frustration listen to some others.

West Indian legend Brian Lara while speaking to news channel NDTV said, "It is ridiculously what the end result is. We are all entertainers. When I play I consider myself an entertainer and that to me was one of the highlights of the World Cup. A guy running in bowling a 150kmph plus and Watson looked like he was visiting school. It was amazing cricket. It is unbelievable that that is the end result and that both of them are fined. I don't know what the ICC was thinking. It was just uncalled for and we need this in a sport that people are running away from. I loved the exchange. I can't wait to meet this Wahab guy. It was unfortunate that he was fined. I'll pay the fine."

Former Australian Cricket Captain Ian Chappell said, "the ICC has been inconsistent with their fines. Those with worse offences have not been handed the same treatment that Wahab and Watson received."

Former England Cricket Captain Kevin Pietersen on another television channel asked whether the umpires have become too involved in the game.

In recent times, the quintessential recipe for banter is a high intensity India vs Australia match. The young blood would put a blood bank to shame and in another set of words borrowed from the song (Uptown Funk) the blood of the young ones in that game is so hot it would 'make a dragon wanna retire man'. So, this gives you the unique opportunity of a second chance. When these two countries give us something to watch, show us a spark, a little bit of warmth in the form of some fiery performances, on the 26th of March, let it pass and just let the game 'funk it up'.