Tabraiz Shamsi, South African cricketer has backed spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, saying that bowlers should Mankad without any fear.
Ravichandran Ashwin received severe criticism for Mankading Rajasthan Royals’ batsman, Jos Buttler, during an IPL game between Punjab Kings (then known as Kings XI Punjab) and Rajasthan Royals in 2019.
Tabraiz Shamsi Supports Ravichandran Ashwin On Mankading And Thinks All Bowlers Should Do It Without Any Fear
However, the senior cricketer stood his ground and backed his decision. He also received praise from several sections. Tabraiz Shamsi has now come out in support of Ravichandran Ashwin, saying that it is the batters who are cheating. Tabraiz Shamsi agrees with the Tamil Nadu-born off-spinner, saying the bowlers must do it as it is within the rules of the game.
The left-arm wrist-spinner also thinks that why the bowlers should receive criticism for abusing the spirit of cricket when it’s the batsmen stealing a few extra yards.
“@ashwinravi99 I think all bowlers should do it without any fear.. it’s within the rules of the game,” tweeted Tabraiz Shamsi.
“Why must the bowlers get abused about the “spirit of cricket” when it’s actually the batsmen that are stealing yards and THAT is against the spirit of cricket. That’s the real truth,” added Tabraiz Shamsi.
Ravichandran Ashwin while playing for Kings XI Punjab had dismissed non-striker Jos Buttler of Rajasthan Royals when he had left the batting crease before the ball was bowled. The incident which happened in 2019 was not repeated in 2020 when Ravichandran Ashwin while playing for Delhi Capitals warned Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Aaron Finch when he left the crease at the non-striker’s end.
Tabraiz Shamsi’s comments came after former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar and Ravichandran Ashwin had a constructive debate on Twitter on how to even out the contest between batsman and bowlers in the modern game.
Ravichandran Ashwin Suggested A New Rule-Free Ball For Bowlers Every Time Batsman Leaves Non-Strikers End Early
In his column for the Hindustan Times, Sanjay Manjrekar stated that the free-hit rule was introduced by a ‘sadist’ who hated bowlers.
“Free hit is a thing I want gone, again terribly unfair on the bowlers. Today with the TV umpire monitoring no balls, a bowler has to be a centimetre over, and immediately, a string of punishments are meted out,” wrote Sanjay Manjrekar.
“The bowler has to bowl an extra ball, the batter cannot be out to that no ball already bowled and there is also a penalty of one run. To add to that, there is a free hit offered to the batter in which he cannot be out. The penalty is just not commensurate to the ‘wrongful’ act. It’s as if the rule was introduced by a sadist who hated bowlers,” added Manjrekar.
In his response, Ravichandran Ashwin suggested a new rule – ‘free ball’. According to the bowler, ten runs should be docked from the bowlers’ figures and also from the overall total every time a non-striker leaves the crease early.
“Come on @sanjaymanjrekar, free hit is a great marketing tool and has captured the imagination of all the fans. Let’s add a free ball for the bowlers every time a batter leaves the non-strikers’ end early, a wicket of that ball will reduce 10 runs of the bowlers’ analysis and total,” tweeted Ravichandran Ashwin.
“Remember: “you are supposed to leave the crease only after the ball leaves the hand,” added Ravichandran Ashwin.
Sanjay Manjrekar, a cricketer-turned-commentator, also called for the removal of the leg-bye rule.
“We see a bowler has bowled a great delivery and the batter is deceived, he can’t put the bat to ball. But the ball brushes to the fine leg boundary. The umpire signals a four in favour of the batting team! The batter is rewarded, the bowler penalized. How does that make sense from any angle?” asserted Sanjay Manjrekar.
Mankading has happened only 4 times in Tests,5 times in ODIs, 1 time in T20Is, and only once in IPL. The last one happened during 2019 IPL in March. The former Kings XI Punjab spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s Mankad act divided the sporting fraternity into two halves- some criticized him for his action terming it as illegal while quite a few backed the off-spinner, saying Mankading is within the rules and spirit of the game.