Not in good spirits: Shakib might have been the greater man and confirmed some magnanimity by altering his thoughts.
| Photo Credit: AFP
The air was murky over Delhi and it has been this manner for so long as its residents can keep in mind. But what transpired throughout the World Cup match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday was much more grim. It was a stab into the coronary heart of a sport with its ‘Gentleman’s Game’ tag.
It is one other matter that cricket’s morals and its much-debated ‘spirit of the game’ have declined over the years. Sport isn’t utopia and cricket by no means was. Captains all the time learn the fine-print beneath the legal guidelines and use all strategies which might be obtainable to pinch a win.
Still, regardless of all these caveats, what Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan did to Sri Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews was horrible. To time-out a batter, a primary in worldwide cricket, is a brand new low. The guidelines do specify two minutes for the new batter to take strike and Shakib performed by that pointer to scupper Mathews’ imminent tryst at the crease.
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The vital level although is that Mathews had a defective strap connected to his helmet. We might debate on why the Sri Lankan wasn’t conscious of it earlier than he stepped out of the dressing room. But having realised that his protecting gear wasn’t so as, Mathews had each motive to name for a alternative. The reminiscence of the late Phillip Hughes is nonetheless uncooked and that tragedy pressured the ICC to usher in contemporary legal guidelines particular to head accidents.
However, Shakib had no time for historical past’s classes or the recreation’s important manners. He appealed for ‘Timed Out’. Umpires Marais Erasmus and Richard Illingworth, even when they did ask the Bangladesh captain about whether or not he was severe and would really like to revoke his question, had to play by the rule ebook. Shakib refused to budge and ‘out’ was the verdict. Later in the post-match press conferences, the two sparring gamers reiterated their particular person positions. One leant on the guidelines whereas the different insisted on tools failure.
In the case of a bowler effecting a run out at the non-striker’s crease when an over-eager batter steps out, it is a proper counter as the willow wielder is attempting to acquire an unfair benefit. But in the case of Mathews, he wasn’t gaining something by delaying taking strike. He is now insisting that he was inside the two-minute deadline and additionally provided video proof to bolster his case.
Shakib might have been the greater man and modified his thoughts. What he did was despicable. A splendid all-rounder, his indignant bouts and churlish behaviour over the final decade is a stain on his persona.
The ICC has to revisit its ‘Timed Out’ rule and add some clauses and nuance to it. There are guidelines and choices however there is discretion too. Sadly it went lacking.
