Waugh would be willing to help rebuild the bridges between Australia and India and the tourists are keen to have him involved.
SYDNEY: Steve Waugh, one of cricket's most respected figures, would be willing to help rebuild the bridges between Australia and India and the tourists are keen to have him involved, the Australian media reported Sunday.
Relations are at an all-time low in the wake of 'monkeygate'. In India, emotion has run wild all week, with effigies of Australian cricketers set alight, and there have been calls for businesses to end associations they have with Australian players.
Waugh has maintained a reasonably low profile since he retired from the Test arena four years ago, but he still commands respect in India, where he has worked for charity and developed meaningful business links, a report in the Sydney Morning Herald has stated.
He could now be Cricket Australia's best hope to quickly negotiate the issues, which have tested relations between the sport's superpowers.
"If they needed that, I would do it," Waugh said. "I really don't think it is at that stage, but if it was seen as something that had to be done, yeah, I would do it. I have already spoken to some players from both sides, and I really don't think there is a need to mediate."
The second Test at Sydney was plagued by bitter events, the reporting of spin bowler Harbhajan Singh for a "monkey" slur at Andrew Symonds the most dramatic.
Waugh was adamant the ill feeling could be smoothed over. "Anything in sport can be sorted out," Waugh said. "It might be nothing more than a few players putting their personal opinions aside and being committed to going forward."
Indian team spokesperson MV Sridhar said Waugh's willingness to help broker peace had great appeal.
"The status of Steve Waugh in the game is well known to everyone in cricket," he said. "This is a kind gesture on his behalf.
"This is something I will be talking to the team about. He is a very respected person in India and if he is willing to offer his words, my own personal view would be 'Why not?'
"I think everybody would like to see the right outcome to the present situation."
Australian skipper Ricky Ponting told The Sun-Herald on Saturday night he did not want to comment on inviting Waugh to act as peacemaker.
"Sorry mate, I don't want to buy into that at this time," Ponting said.
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