DAMMAM, 12 February 2003 — “Breaking News” flashed on the television screen, and the Star News anchor announced that Australian cricketer Shane Warne had tested positive for a banned substance and would be out of the World Cup.
People quickly got on their phones as the news of Shane Warne’s exclusion broke.
Noor from India got a call from his brother in America. “Great news: India will be world cup champions!”
Everyone had an opinion and was ready to give it. “This is great for us,” said Ahmed from Pakistan. “We’ll have a much better chance of winning the match. It will be good for all of us: India and Pakistan. It couldn’t have happened at a better time.”
Ahmed said he did not believe that Shane Warne took drugs to enhance his performance. “He is already too good. He does not need drugs to become better. It is just unlucky. He probably took it for his shoulder injury. But a banned substance is a banned substance.”
Anjum from India was sad. “I love seeing Shane Warne in action. It’s good to have competition. I think he’ll be exonerated and will get his place in the team back, but it will take time. It’s a real loss for Australia.”
“I am very happy with the news,” Noor said. “Shane Warne was too arrogant. He really needed a lesson. He got away with a slap on the wrist with the match fixing. When he accepted money from an Indian bookie, he was allowed to play after a small fine. It was time.”
“Shane Warne only took diuretics. There’s no way that’s a performance enhancer,” said Munawwer, the Indian-American expatriate.
“But maybe he took those diuretics to flush out something that he may have taken earlier. Hats off to the Australian Cricket Board for announcing the result at such a critical juncture about their own player,” he added.
Shane Warne’s exit from the World Cup adds another controversy to a World Cup which has already seen contract squabbles, venue problems, umpiring inconsistencies and a major upset in the first match.
There is bound to be more.
