Bangladesh and questionable umpiring make for a sad day in cricketing history. Sr Lanka bow out of World Cup. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (Elanka Sports Editor).
Shakib Al Hassan and Marias Erasmus sensationally made cricketing history by making a blotch on the Spirit of Cricket adding insult to injury to Sri Lanka who confirmed their exit from the World Cup with a three wicket loss.
The combine brought back bizarre memories of the 1980’s when Austrlian Umpires Darrell Hair and Ross Emerson took centre stage by embarrassing Sri Lanka’s greatest bowler Mutthiah Muralitharan, by calling him for chucking. It was a ruling they lived to regret.
There were other unsavoury incidents involving Mankad and Trevor Chappell that would be best forgotten, then there was this.
Angelo Matthews was given “timed out” without facing a ball while calling for another helmet when the strap on the one he had, broke.
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In this case however, the ruling was within the laws of the game but no one has ever ventured to apply it for fear of accusation in what was once regarded as a “gentleman’s game “. Many firmly believe the sanity should have prevailed in the umpires decision.
Another question that arose was, did the umpires follow proper protocols and check the exact timing of the entire incident with TMO? If they did, there was justification to the Bangladeshis appeal.
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The standoff and resultant dismissal of Angelo Matthews should alert the ICC to consider remedial action to avoid future incidents of this nature. It does nothing to make the game attractive.
A visibly upset Matthew’s was seething in his post match interview insisting that common-sense should have prevailed. He labelled Shakib and Bangladesh bad sportsman. He also said that Sri Lanka would appeal the the ICC with mitigating evidence about why the umpires decision was unfair seeing the incident was a health and safety issue.
What could be done to avert another episode is to introduce an AFL style ruling where the umpires warn players about time limits.
The incident in Delhi when Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hassan readily admitted that he would stoop to any level to win a game, destroyed all reasoning about fairplplay and sportsmanship. The win at all cost attitude must rate the Bangladeshis as the worst sporting nation in the World.
Matthews was the victim in this instance, when he walked out to bat and discovered that the fastening strap on his helmet had broken. He called for a replacement and while deciding which one he would use, the Bangladesh skipper appealed for time wasting and Erasmus was forced to uphold the appeal.
Some will argue the with his wealth of experience, he should have known better.
The uproar that ensued as Matthews sought clarification, took away the importance of the encounter and highlighted the change of attitude in the modern day world of sport. It was indeed a sad day in cricketing history.
Matthews thus became the first victim of a rule never applied before. Both players who have made a heavy contribution to the game, will end their long careers, remembered for the wrong reasons.
Sri Lanka’s retalialition by not shaking the Bangladeshis hands post game added to the unsportsmanlike behaviour making their encounters ahead a volatile proposition. The ICC will do well to prepare for future encounters between the two. There has been bad blood on the cricketing field between the two nations before.
Sri Lanka’s three wicket loss gave Bangladesh the points in the game but not in the purists hearts as a storm of abuse erupted against the player and Umpire on social media.
The lacklustre Sri Lankans return home after their last encounter against New Zealand, to a frosty reception from their fans as political chaos reigns in the games administration seeking to go through necessary changes needed with heavy sweeping broom.
Reports indicate a legal stoush ahead after Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe sacked the existing administration and appointed an interim committee headed by former World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunge.
Batting first, Sri Lanka went through a roller coaster before making a competitive target of 279 in 49.3 overs.
Charith Asalanka found form to blast an entertaining century, 108 off 105 deliveries, after Pathum Nissanka and Sadeera Samarawickrema made 40’s in a losing effort.
Bangladesh raced to the target in 41.1 overs losing seven wickets. Shakib Al Hassan got the expected send off by Matthews after a match winning innings when he grabbed his wicket.
Bangladesh lost 2 of 41 before Najmul Hossain Shanto and skipper Shakib Al Hassan steadied the ship as they raced to the target. Shanto made 90 a Al Hassan 82 off 65 balls to earn him Player-of-the-match.
Sri Lanka’s left arm paceman Dilshan Madushanka grabbed 3 wickets to put him atop the bowling in the tournament.
