TechLahore
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God bless Dickie Bird... I agree with literally everything he says below. From money ruining cricket, to Imran's awesomeness as captain, to Pakistan being his favourite place! It's mine too 
Pakistan has a special place in Dickie Bird’s heart
By Qamar Ahmed
Sunday, 09 May, 2010
“Under pressure, Imran was highly tactical and knew how to handle his players. It is because of him that Wasim and Waqar looked and learnt the way they did.” -Photo by Gareth J Dykes
CRICKET
Money has ruined cricket: Dickie Bird
Harold Dennis Bird, popularly known as ‘Dickie’, now in retirement, remains the most revered umpire of the modern era. From his debut as an international umpire in 1973 to his valedictory Test at Lord’s against India in 1996, he unarguably was the best that was around.
Sound in decision-making and in authority incomparable, he stood in 66 Tests before bowing out in tears as the crowd at Lord’s gave him a standing ovation; A day memorable not only for him but for all those who watched him bid farewell.
After I first met him during the 1975 World Cup, we crossed our paths many a time while fulfilling our respective assignments. Be it Lord’s, Sydney, Kolkata, Hobart or Karachi, he stood out as one whom everyone knew or wanted to know. Despite the pressures of being a man in control of the match he would always had time for you and with his typical Yorkshire accent he would ask if you said something informative: “Is that so?”. Those were his usual catchwords, too.
He may not be as outgoing when in office as an umpire, but he certainly is now like a free bird, expressing his opinion on the game as he still keeps the track down to the wire.
To meet him on a freezing cold day last March, when I bumped into him at his famous haunt in a fish and chips restaurant in Yorkshire town of Wakefield - which is not far from Staircross in Barnsley where he lives in a 17th century cottage - was reward enough for a 200-mile car journey to a bat-making factory with my friend Imtiaz Ahmed.
Thanks to my friend that he pointed out to me in the direction of the legendary umpire, that I noticed him sitting all alone and watched by the guests at the restaurant who would now and again nod at him to make him comfortable and to let him know that his presence is being noticed.
It came as much a surprise to him that I was there in the remote corner of a Yorkshire town in the winter. He welcomed our presence with open arm as he always did and did not wait longer to open up. For me, it was a golden opportunity to talk to the great man about his time as a first-class player for Yorkshire and Liecestershire and his tenure at the top in international cricket.
“I am not happy with this umpire decision review system. Do you like that?” he asked me. I told him the system is not to my taste and he agreed. “Oh Yes. Umpires are now made to look like robots and their authority is being undermined. Isn’t it insulting that you give some one leg before and he then stands his ground and challenges the authority. This is disgusting. I am glad I am out of this long time ago,” Dickie said.
“Umpires do make mistakes and that is not deliberate. Even I did. I remember giving Imran Khan out wrongly in the crunch match at Lahore during the 1987 World Cup. I felt so bad after that and always apologise to Imran even now when I see him. But that was a rare mistake and good players understand that and take your apology in good spirit.”
Keen to know about his views on the present day umpires, I asked him how he rated them. “I tell you lad, there’s no one better than the Pakistani Aleem Dar. He is superb. He is so cool and calculated and he knows what he is doing. I like the look of him and I am glad that the ICC recognized that at last. Simon Taufel is good but I think Aleem is a lot better,” said Dickie candidly. Mincing no words, Dickie also expressed his views on captaincy and believed that Mike Brearley, Imran Khan and Steve Waugh were the best captains he had the privilege of watching. “Under pressure, Imran was highly tactical and knew how to handle his players. It is because of him that Wasim and Waqar looked and learnt the way they did.”
“And I tell you what, those two Wasim and Waqar could bowl out any batting side of the world on their day. They were a superb combination of pace and swing. Deadly in fact,” said Dickie while praising the pace duo generously.
“And that man Miandad, oh boy what a player, what a brave batsman .I always enjoyed watching him drive, cut and pull. He was an all-round batsman, like the great man Viv Richards.”
How about Sachin Tendulkar then, Dickie?. “Good batsman but I would have Sunil Gavaskar any time to bat for me. What tremendous technique the man possessed.”
The great umpire lamented though that there is no home series in Pakistan and teams now do not wish to risk playing there after what happened to Sri Lankans last year. “I always enjoyed Pakistan and the people there are so warm-hearted. I never had any complaints about Pakistan. My favourite place always. I hope things improve there and teams start coming back. That is my prayer for Pakistan,” said Dickie Bird.
We left him there, sipping a cup of tea and warming himself in front of the fireplace.
Pakistan has a special place in Dickie Bird’s heart
By Qamar Ahmed
Sunday, 09 May, 2010
“Under pressure, Imran was highly tactical and knew how to handle his players. It is because of him that Wasim and Waqar looked and learnt the way they did.” -Photo by Gareth J Dykes
CRICKET
Money has ruined cricket: Dickie Bird
Harold Dennis Bird, popularly known as ‘Dickie’, now in retirement, remains the most revered umpire of the modern era. From his debut as an international umpire in 1973 to his valedictory Test at Lord’s against India in 1996, he unarguably was the best that was around.
Sound in decision-making and in authority incomparable, he stood in 66 Tests before bowing out in tears as the crowd at Lord’s gave him a standing ovation; A day memorable not only for him but for all those who watched him bid farewell.
After I first met him during the 1975 World Cup, we crossed our paths many a time while fulfilling our respective assignments. Be it Lord’s, Sydney, Kolkata, Hobart or Karachi, he stood out as one whom everyone knew or wanted to know. Despite the pressures of being a man in control of the match he would always had time for you and with his typical Yorkshire accent he would ask if you said something informative: “Is that so?”. Those were his usual catchwords, too.
He may not be as outgoing when in office as an umpire, but he certainly is now like a free bird, expressing his opinion on the game as he still keeps the track down to the wire.
To meet him on a freezing cold day last March, when I bumped into him at his famous haunt in a fish and chips restaurant in Yorkshire town of Wakefield - which is not far from Staircross in Barnsley where he lives in a 17th century cottage - was reward enough for a 200-mile car journey to a bat-making factory with my friend Imtiaz Ahmed.
Thanks to my friend that he pointed out to me in the direction of the legendary umpire, that I noticed him sitting all alone and watched by the guests at the restaurant who would now and again nod at him to make him comfortable and to let him know that his presence is being noticed.
It came as much a surprise to him that I was there in the remote corner of a Yorkshire town in the winter. He welcomed our presence with open arm as he always did and did not wait longer to open up. For me, it was a golden opportunity to talk to the great man about his time as a first-class player for Yorkshire and Liecestershire and his tenure at the top in international cricket.
“I am not happy with this umpire decision review system. Do you like that?” he asked me. I told him the system is not to my taste and he agreed. “Oh Yes. Umpires are now made to look like robots and their authority is being undermined. Isn’t it insulting that you give some one leg before and he then stands his ground and challenges the authority. This is disgusting. I am glad I am out of this long time ago,” Dickie said.
“Umpires do make mistakes and that is not deliberate. Even I did. I remember giving Imran Khan out wrongly in the crunch match at Lahore during the 1987 World Cup. I felt so bad after that and always apologise to Imran even now when I see him. But that was a rare mistake and good players understand that and take your apology in good spirit.”
Keen to know about his views on the present day umpires, I asked him how he rated them. “I tell you lad, there’s no one better than the Pakistani Aleem Dar. He is superb. He is so cool and calculated and he knows what he is doing. I like the look of him and I am glad that the ICC recognized that at last. Simon Taufel is good but I think Aleem is a lot better,” said Dickie candidly. Mincing no words, Dickie also expressed his views on captaincy and believed that Mike Brearley, Imran Khan and Steve Waugh were the best captains he had the privilege of watching. “Under pressure, Imran was highly tactical and knew how to handle his players. It is because of him that Wasim and Waqar looked and learnt the way they did.”
“And I tell you what, those two Wasim and Waqar could bowl out any batting side of the world on their day. They were a superb combination of pace and swing. Deadly in fact,” said Dickie while praising the pace duo generously.
“And that man Miandad, oh boy what a player, what a brave batsman .I always enjoyed watching him drive, cut and pull. He was an all-round batsman, like the great man Viv Richards.”
How about Sachin Tendulkar then, Dickie?. “Good batsman but I would have Sunil Gavaskar any time to bat for me. What tremendous technique the man possessed.”
The great umpire lamented though that there is no home series in Pakistan and teams now do not wish to risk playing there after what happened to Sri Lankans last year. “I always enjoyed Pakistan and the people there are so warm-hearted. I never had any complaints about Pakistan. My favourite place always. I hope things improve there and teams start coming back. That is my prayer for Pakistan,” said Dickie Bird.
We left him there, sipping a cup of tea and warming himself in front of the fireplace.
