Rishabh Pant’s injury bends ICC for rule change

The India National Cricket Team suffered a major blow as Rishabh Pant was forced off the field due to injury yet again in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, and this time after a nasty blow while batting at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester.

Rishabh Pant got injured once again, and this time, he injured his foot and had to leave the field immediately after the blow on Day 1 of the ongoing fourth Test against England in Manchester. Earlier, the Indian vice-captain sustained a hand injury while batting at Lord’s and missed wicketkeeping duties during the team’s narrow 22-run loss to England.

Michael Vaughan sympathises with India after Rishabh Pant blow

Well now, with four full days of play still remaining at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground, the Indian cricket team was left with only 10 fit players, which sparked a huge debate among the cricket experts, as it put England in a great position to take the ongoing five-match Test series.

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Reacting to the same, former England captain Michael Vaughan has expressed his disappointment at how the rules work in such situations. Vaughan questioned how it was fair that one team had to play short just because of an unfortunate injury. He called for changes in the current rules for fairness.

Michael Vaughan was quoted as saying by BBC Sports: “I don’t like the fact that we’ve got four days left in the game, four days of action in what has been an incredible series where we are going to have 10 versus 11. I prefer that you’d have a sub.”

Michael Vaughan calls for substitution rule change after Rishabh Pant’s latest injury

The well-known broadcaster has further pointed out that when concussion substitutes were introduced, it was a big step forward. But now, with serious injuries like broken fingers or torn muscles, teams still don’t get the option to bring in a replacement unless it is a concussion.

Vaughan believes that if a player clearly can’t continue due to the injury, like what happened with Rishabh Pant in Manchester, where he had to be taken off the field on a medical cart after the nasty injury, the team should be allowed to bring in a substitute, at least during the first innings.

He noted, “You know, once they brought in concussion subs, I was crying out, saying, ‘Well, just have substitutions then in the first innings of a game.’ That would be my stepping point.”

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Michael Vaughan wants a strict substitution rule for Test Cricket

The reason behind the Englishman’s suggestion is that there is a chance that teams might misuse this facility if the substitute is allowed in the second innings. He stressed that there should be no reason to let a team suffer when a player is genuinely hurt and can’t play.

Vaughan signed off by saying, “If it happens in the second innings, I feel that team might kind of break the rules or indulge in a bit of skullduggery. But if it’s clear and obvious when someone breaks a hand or a foot or ruptures a calf, it’s so evident that someone is in real pain and can’t carry on. I think it’s very clear to me: you should be allowed a sub.”

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