Speed Sorry For World Cup Farce

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Speed - won't overreact.

By Myles Hodgson, PA Sport Cricket Correspondent, Barbados

International cricket chief Malcolm Speed has insisted the ICC will not "overreact" to the umpiring errors which resulted in a farcical ending to the World Cup final.

Millions of viewers around the world watched in confusion as Australia celebrated in the gloom thinking they had won the World Cup for the third time in succession, only to be called back out in near darkness to play a further three overs.

The confusion followed a total misinterpretation of the playing conditions from match referee Jeff Crowe, on-field umpires Aleem Dar and Steve Bucknor and reserve umpires Rudi Koertzen and Billy Bowden - none of whom realised that it took only 20 overs a side to constitute a full match when weather intervenes.

Crowe, the head of the umpires, accepted full responsibility for the errors, admitting their embarrassment and the mistakes which reflected badly on cricket world-wide.

But Speed, the chief executive of the International Cricket Council, insisted they would not be seeking resignations or considering dismissals.

Asked whether the officials would survive, Speed stressed: "They certainly do have a future in the game - we're not going to overreact to this.

"The umpires and the playing control team and Jeff Crowe, they had earned the right to umpire in the World Cup final because they are outstanding umpires and an outstanding referee.

"I saw Jeff Crowe this morning, he came up to me and said 'I am very sorry about yesterday (Saturday), we are all very sorry about yesterday, it shouldn't have happened'."

Speed conceded the damaging pictures broadcast around the world would not have helped the reputation of a sport which has only just recovered from the stigma of match-fixing and is currently involved with a murder inquiry after Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer died in suspicious circumstances during the tournament.

"It's not a good image for the game, we would have far preferred if news highlights had been some of the great cricket played and some of the great decisions made by the umpires," admitted Speed, who was hit on the back of the head by an ICC backdrop as the press conference opened.

"It was unfortunate, a very sad way to finish the World Cup. I hope we can recall the great day's cricket we had before this very unfortunate ending.

"We very sincerely apologise for the error that was made. What we'd like to happen we put that in the context it was an unnecessary error, a fundamental error, it was made under difficult circumstances at the end of the match and hopefully it won't detract from what, up until that stage, had been an outstanding day's cricket to finish this ICC Cricket World Cup."

David Richardson, the ICC's general manager, admitted: "We've tried to come up with an explanation and we can't. We've spoken to them (the officials) and they are at a loss to try to explain.

"What worries me, as the guy ultimately responsible for how match officials perform is that we get ourselves into a pressure situation and we are not able to cope with it.

"That's what it's about, whether you are playing or officiating. Malcolm has said we are not going to overreact but we are certainly going to take it very seriously and look at how it could have happened."