There was no tension between Indian, Pakistani teams: Taufel

NEW DELHI: Acclaimed umpire Simon Taufel, who stood in the first India-Pakistan Test here, has said there was little tension on the ground between the teams and a lot of credit for good behaviour on the field should go to their captains Anil Kumble and Shoaib Malik.

He also picked Harbhajan Singh and Shoaib Akhtar for some "funny" moments that made the atmosphere relaxed at the Kotla.

While disclosing that not a single player was pulled up for any breach of the code of conduct, Australian Taufel - winner of the International Cricket Council's Best Umpire Award four times in succession - said that a lot of credit for the players' good behaviour goes to captains Kumble of India and  Malik of Pakistan.

"There were always a lot of tough moments, whether they were appeals or handling difficult situations. But, quite frankly, we (team of match officials) are really pleased with the way the players responded to this game," Taufel said in an interview.

"The players were very responsible, they were very relaxed, there was not a lot of aggro or friction between the players that we had to control. We had a lot of funny moments with guys like Akhtar laughing and playing around. Harbhajan is always quite funny out on the field," he said a day after India won by six wickets.

The affable Taufel, for whom it was the 46th Test, said he was happy that a potentially key contest like this was played without a single undesired incident.

"I was just very impressed with the way the guys went about their jobs. And to be able to get through the match without having any code of conduct issues or any major problems is a great thing," said the 36-year-old umpire from Sydney.

"No, not a single hearing. Credit to both captains for the way they managed their sides. We did the preparations very seriously with the two teams and they responded accordingly. So, yeah, all looks good for a great series," he said.
The second Test of the three-match series starts in Kolkata Friday.

The Sunday crowd at the Ferozeshah Kotla was very vocal, which must have put pressure on Taufel, said his colleague Billy Doctrove of the West Indies.

"The crowd on Day Four, almost a packed house, was very noisy, very enthusiastic, and just the hype in the atmosphere that surrounds these type of contests was a very enthralling sight. I feel really quite privileged to be part of it and to be able to contribute towards a good match for which I am very grateful," Taufel said.

Was the match then easy to officiate?

"No, it looked a very challenging environment. An India-Pakistan series always creates a lot interest; there is a lot of external pressure there that does exist. You've got to control and manage it. So, for me it's all about keeping it simple," the Australian emphasised.

Taufel also made some interesting observations on the match.

"It was a very sporting and challenging pitch as well.  Neither side scored more than 300 runs (in any of the four innings), which is fairly unusual for a Test match. Not a single century.

"We saw a lot of batsmen get bowled, which I haven't seen for a long, long time. I am not sure about statistics, but four or five batsmen got bowled in each innings, so it was the main form of dismissal, which is fairly unusual in today's cricket."

Taufel, who has now officiated in all four India-Pakistan Test series since 2004 when the cricketing relations between the countries were revived, agreed that the sting in an India-Pakistan contest, so prominent till late 1970s, has gone away to a large extent.

"Look, I have been involved in all those series (2004 in Pakistan, 2005 in India and 2006 in Pakistan) and I think the players are more relaxed about it. I don't think they are now unnerved the way they used to be going back a couple of years, and maybe that's what you've been picking up on," he said.

Taufel, who has also officiated in 116 One-Day Internationals, said that it did not mean that players were not doing their best.

"I know the hunger and the desire to do well in these contests, in these matches is still there. All the players realise that it is important to the fans and the spectators in their home countries that they are giving more than 100 percent," he said.

"They are probably more relaxed about the fact that 'I'll perform and I will do my best', but they are not overly worried about it the way they probably were about three or four years ago. They are probably just a bit more controlled in their approach. That, I suppose, is the best way of explaining that."