Sunil Gavaskar Criticizes ICC Over Giving Clean Chit To Steven Smith
Mar 9, 2017 at 1:12 PM
Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has lashed out at the International Cricket Council (ICC) for giving a clean chit to Australian skipper Steven Smith over the DRS drama which unfolded on Day 4 of the Bengaluru Test.
Smith, who in words of Virat Kohli and many other cricketing greats altered the spirit of the game, was left unpunished and Gavaskar has been left miffed with the favorable treatment he believes has been given to the visiting side.
During Australia’s second innings, captain Smith was caught in-front of wicket and was adjudged LBW off Umesh Yadav’s ball. Even with the naked eye, that looked plum, but Smith thought of taking a review, as his wicket mattered the most at that time given the situation of the game. After seeking advice from non-striker Peter Handscomb on his call, he looked at the dressing room in the wake to receive any signal within 15 seconds.
As soon he did it, umpire Nigel Llong came rushing in and asked the captain to walk away. His actions also caused concerns in the commentary box as Michael Clarke and VVS Laxman were all but disappointed seeing that. Captain Virat Kohli later in the press conference said he along with the management have complained to match referee Chris Broad about this, but in the verdict, the Englishmen denied any ill-intent from Australia.
Speaking to NDTV, the former captain expressed his displeasure over the decision taken by the governing body.
“It can’t be that some countries get favourable treatment and some countries do not get favourable treatment. If an Indian player (seeks illegal advice from the changing room) then he also should not be pulled up at all. I would actually love to see Virat Kohli, if he is given out (in the third test) … and he looks at the Indian dressing room, get some sort of feedback from them. Yes or no, I don’t know what signal they decide upon. Let’s see what the match referee and the ICC decides then.”
Further claiming his disappointment, he said how can someone not find anything faulty in that? How can the matter be doused off so easily. He said his words won’t matter now as the ICC match referee has already given his words.
“(Broad) hasn’t seen that there is anything that was done that was in breach of the ICC code of conduct. I can rave and rant and do whatever we have to do about it but the match referee says nothing’s the matter or at least that’s what the ICC statement suggests. You can say it’s wrong, it’s not correct, it’s a snub to the BCCI and Virat Kohli and the Indian team but basically that is that.”