Cricket news: Mankad family feud breaks out over controversial name change debate

Family of Vinoo Mankad have hit back at his grandson’s plea to keep the controversial cricketing term named after the Indian cricketer.

The Mankad family are at odds with themselves over the use of the controversial cricketing term.

Last week News Corp revealed the grandson of Vinoo Mankad had pleaded for the cricket world not to cancel the term ‘Mankad’ or ‘Mankading’ from the game’s lexicon, proud that the family name was associated with a form of dismissal that is finally being given the legitimacy it deserves.

However, the wife of Mankad’s late son, Rahul, has hit back and declared the Indian cricketing legend’s grandson, Harsh, does not speak for the family.

“(That’s) my nephew’s personal view, not that of the Mankad family,” Nishita Rahul Mankad wrote in response to last week’s article.

Vinoo Mankad played Test cricket for India.

“My late husband Rahul Mankad, son of Vinoo Mankad, fought hard to have the ICC remove the family name from this form of dismissal, as it is inappropriate for a legitimate form of dismissal to stigmatise a legendary cricketer.”

Last week leading cricket administrators Todd Greenberg from the Australian Cricketers Association and Lee Germon from Cricket NSW started a push for the term ‘Mankad’ to be permanently removed from the game’s vernacular out of respect to the family.

That push would be supported by Nishita Mankad.

Mankad or Mankading has been part of the language of the game ever since the Indian all-rounder famously ran out Australian Bill Brown at the non-striker’s end more than 75 years ago.

Harsh Mankad, the son of Vinoo’s other late son, the former Indian Test cricketer Ashok Mankad, made it clear he wanted the terminology to live on.

Harsh Mankad (left) wants the terminology to live on.

“Personally, I’m always delighted to see my grandfather being remembered. I feel it to be a great honour for our name to be associated with a cricketing term,” said Harsh Mankad, who was India’s No.1 ranked tennis player for the best part of a decade.

“I’d love to see the “Mankad” or “Mankading” stay and keep alive his memories and legacy as a great competitor and sportsman deeply respected and admired by everyone I’ve met and those who knew him and experienced life with him!”

Australian cricketer Adam Zampa reignited debate around the dismissal last week during the BBL.

The Mankad family feud over the use of the name is a snapshot of how polarising the issue has been worldwide.

However, there is positivity that the recent moves by Australian stars Mitchell Starc and Adam Zampa to legitimise the dismissal could be a key breakthrough in ending the stigma over a form of the dismissal that is completely within the rules of the game.

Originally published as Cricket news: Mankad family feud breaks out over controversial name change debate