The Laws of Cricket Are Based Upon Contexts and Qualms

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 21 November, 2023 When this law was drafted, the cricket community as a whole either contributed to its creation or supported it. If this law was harsh and immoral, then why was it created by everyone together? Either all people lack morality, or you are endorsing Mathews as the only one who is correct and Shakib is incorrect. By GG 13/11/2023 17:25:39 I'm afraid this comment smacks of mild community affinity as the person who has commented, happens to be a Muslim. So, it's obvious that he's trying to justify Shakib's act of villainy. Please understand one thing. There're at least six rules in cricket which very much exist but are often debated when implemented. Implementation of a rule depends upon the contexts and are often influenced by circumstances, player or captain's qualms and scruples. Even one of the greatest sportsmen like late Bishan Singh Bedi, who would clap when a batsman would hit him for a boundary or an over boundary, didn't allow limping Viv Richards to have a runner which annoyed the West Indian captain Clive Lloyd and of course, the great Viv Richards. Bedi was within the rules and had the right to say no to a runner for Richards because you need the permission of the captain of another team for having a runner. Since Lloyd resorted to unlawful and intimidating tactics to demoralise the Indian batsmen by unleashing his deadly pacers, Bedi taught him a lesson when the ball was in his court. Moreover, Richards could still run. It was tit for tat. The same sporting Sardar allowed all batsmen including Lloyd to have a runner when they were genuinely injured. In nearly 150 years of cricket being played in all formats, only twice the captains of opposite teams refused the batsmen of another team to have a runner. Before Bedi, the legendary Wally Hammond didn't allow Bill Ponsford of Australia to have a runner as the latter pretended to have an injury. Here, Shakib had no such provocation or foul play from the opposition. Angelo Mathews was just adjusting his helmet. Shakib simply wanted to win by resorting to a very unusual law. Mankeding is still in cricket (named after Vinoo Mankad for lawfully running out Australia's Bill Brown in this style in 1947 in a Sydney Test). It was done by Australia's Greg Chappell for the first time in ODIs when he ran out England's Brian Luckhurst in 1974-75. In T20 cricket, the dismissal took place in the Asia Cup Qualifier when Amir Kaleem ran out Mark Chapman. In all these instances, the players in question were right. But West Indies' Courtney Walsh refused to run out Saleem Jaffar in this 'uncricketing' way in a crucial World Cup match in Lahore, Pakistan, way back on October 16, 1987. West Indies lost the match and also missed the Cup. So, all these rules and their implementation depend upon contexts and circumstances. 'Timed out' law has a sub-class very few are aware of. It's hardly implemented on the ground and can be implemented if a batsman is taking inordinate time in coming out of the pavilion. But if he informs, he's not timed out. Australian southpaw Neil Harvey had an upset tummy in the Dacca Test in 1959. He needed to go to the washroom and had cramps. But no Pakistani cricketer shouted for a time out dismissal. Nor was Fazal Mahmood insensitive like Shakib to dismiss Harvey by resorting to the rare law in spite of being aware of it. So, please don't try to defend Shakib. Even the Bangladesh bowling coach, Allan Donald, has roundly criticised him (Shakib). Too much community consciousness is an unhealthy trait and trend. Rise above it. Don't labour under the delusion that the whole world is forever against a Muslim individual and every 'innocent' Muslim is projected as a victim. … A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. -- URL: https://newageislam.com/current-affairs/laws-cricket-contexts-qualms/d/131157 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism