When A Player Loses His Cool

This is Inzamam-ul-Haq. Since I have started following international cricket, I've noticed that the present Pakistani captain Inzamam-ul-Haq as a man who keeps a cool head in times of crisis.

But in Toronto in 1997, Inzamam-ul-Haq was guilty of an offence which, were it to happen today, would almost certainly have seen him banned for a very long time.

Shiv Kumar Thind, a Canadian-based Indian, who had been allowed into the ground armed with a megaphone, taunted Inzamam, as he had done the previous day. What exactly was said is still a matter of debate; but certainly was offensive to provoke an otherwise cool Inzamam to snap and charge at him. Inzamam went into the stands and attempted to attack a foul mouthy fan, triggering a nasty mini-riot .

Inzamam, who clearly regretted the incident, admitted he had been wrong but asked "how long could have I tolerated the man abusing my religion, country and family members?" He continued: Besides being a sportsman, I am also a human being. How many people in the world would have accepted someone who abuses his country and religion.

I recall a similar incident, when Manchester United's Eric Cantona was fined £20,000 and banned from playing football over his kung fu-style attack on a fan in 1995.

Cantona claims the fan, Matthew Simmons, shouted racial insults and threw a missile at him as he walked off the pitch after being given a red card for kicking another player during a tackle.

Cantona is no cool player, but it is a joy to watch his playing skills. It is necessary for fans to appreciate their efforts instead of provoking or hurling abuse at them.

These incidents show that discipline and good conduct is required not only from players but also from the fans as well. Fans should not be allowed to taunt racial abuse or any other form of verbal abuse at players. Players compete in intense competition, sometimes for their countries or their clubs and are under pressure to perform. When fans engage in rowdy behaviour or turn out to be hooligans, the authorities must firmly come down on them and not allow their abusive actions affect the players and the game.