IND vs ENG: Fake Fielding Should Be Considered As Part Of The Deception That The Game Has- Sunil Gavaskar
Published - 09 Nov 2022, 02:38 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:14 AM
Due to an incident that happened during the Super 12 game between India and Bangladesh, fake fielding laws have recently made the news.
Virat Kohli was observed acting as if he was throwing the ball at the non-end strikers during Bangladesh’s seventh over of their chase at Adelaide Oval. However, Kohli’s activities on the field were unnoticed by the umpires.
Bangladesh eventually lost the critical game by five runs, putting them in danger of being knocked out of the competition. When wicket-keeper batsman Nurul Hasan challenged the umpires for failing to see Kohli’s fake fielding, a significant uproar ensued. He added that Bangladesh ought to have received five penalty runs.
Sunil Gavaskar Feels Nothing Wrong With Fake Fielding
Sunil Gavaskar, a former captain of India, believes that faking fielding is a natural aspect of the game. According to the illustrious batsman, the ICC’s fake fielding rules should be repealed and fake fielding should be viewed as a form of art to fool batters rushing between the wickets.
Gavaskar wrote a column for Sportstar in which he discussed fake fielding.
He wrote, “The other contentious one is that of fake fielding. If cricket is a game of deception where the bowlers are trying to get the batsmen out with deception and batsmen too are trying to outsmart the bowlers by taking different guards and moving from side to side to deceive the bowler into bowling where they can hit him, then what’s wrong with a fielder faking he has got the ball in his hands when he actually doesn’t have it.
This should be considered as part of the deception that the game has.”
ICC Has Clear Laws Pertaining To Fake Fielding
According to ICC’s Law 41.5, “It is unfair for any fielder wilfully to attempt, by word or action, to distract, deceive or obstruct either batsman after the striker has received the ball.” According to ICC rules, the decision of whether any distraction, deception, or obstruction is willful or not rests with either of the umpires.
The semi-finals are now guaranteed for Team India. On November 10, England will be the opponent in the thrilling semifinal match in Adelaide. The T20 World Cup championship game is scheduled to take place at Melbourne Cricket Ground on November 13.
