Mumbai Mirror - Hayden labels India third world, BCCI says shut up, News

Posted On Saturday, November 15, 2008 at 02:28:30 AM

Australian opener Matthew Hayden has called India a third-world country and blamed his team’s sluggish over-rate in the lost Test series there on the host batsmen's reluctance to “face up” quickly enough and the constant movement around sightscreens.

“They (opposition batsmen) are very difficult to get to face up,” Hayden was quoted as saying by The Australian. Hayden said sightscreen adjustments also played a part in delaying the proceedings as someone or the other kept moving around it.

“Often we find ourselves with hands on hips waiting for someone to either face up or someone in the sightboard to move away; all the little frustrations that happen in Third World countries and the heat as well,” he added.

Australia were nine overs or 40minutes behind schedule on the penultimate day of the fourth and final Test, which forced their skipper Ricky Ponting to use part-time spinners instead of pacers at a crucial juncture.

Ponting, who could have been banned for a Test for the slow over-rate, came under severe criticism for his tactics. Hayden said over-rates have always been a problem for Australia.

“We’ve had trouble with our over rates for a long time now. It’s not just us in international cricket that seems to struggle with it for whatever reason,” Hayden said.

Meanwhile the Indian cricket board has reacted strongly to Matthew Hayden’s comment. Not to take it lying down, BCCI Finance Committee Chairman Rajiv Shukla lashed out at the Australian for his remarks. “This was a completely uncalled for remark by him.

A player of his stature should not have made the comment,” an angry Shukla said. “If slow-over rate is your habit, why blame India for that and call India third world? We are a very prestigious nation and it was not a nice comment by him,” Shukla said.