Cricket news 2023: Vinoo Mankad family speak out in response to proposed tactic renaming

The Mankad debate has raged through Australia, and the world of cricket, over the past week – with calls for the controversial tactic to be renamed. Now the Indian great’s family has spoken.

The family of Vinoo Mankad has pleaded with the cricket world not to speak for them by cancelling a term they proudly claim.

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

Despite the dismissal being completely within the laws of the game, a stigma has always existed over whether it is against the spirit of cricket and therefore the term Mankading polarises players and fans, right up to Adam Zampa’s attempted run-out in the Big Bash.

As a result, leading administrators Todd Greenberg from the Australian Cricketers Association and Lee Germon from Cricket NSW have this week attempted to start a push to detach the deed from the name out of respect to the Mankad family.

Australian cricketer Adam Zampa reignited the Mankad debate this week during the BBL.

But in a stunning twist, it can be revealed the family in fact want the name to stay and are proud of having it up in lights.

“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,” Harsh Mankad, the grandson of Vinoo Mankad said.

“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!”

Mankad’s two sons, including former Indian Test player Ashok are dead, but in their lifetime it is known they were keen on a change in terminology.

However, grandson Harsh - a professional tennis coach in Minneapolis in the United States, having previously been ranked as India’s No.1 tennis player for many years in the early to mid-2000s - feels the narrative around the hot issue has changed.

Indian tennis player Harsh Mankad (L) with Leander Paes in Adelaide for the Davis Cup in 2002.

Harsh Mankad was directly responding to news reports out of Australia this week debating the merits of eradicating the term ‘Mankad’ from the cricketing lexicon.

The boss of the Australian players’ association Greenberg on Friday joined a chorus of administrators and commentators calling for the name to change out of respect to the Mankad family.

“I’ve been a bit frustrated over the last 24-48 hours talking about it like it’s a debate. I don’t think it’s a debate. I think I’s very black and white. It shouldn’t be the word Mankad,” Greenberg said on SEN.

“I agree, the players have a role in eradicating that term. It’s a run out at the non-striker’s end.

“...We have a huge opportunity and responsibility as the elite players to make sure we change that.

“Language is important. Tone is important. And an understanding that when you break rules there are consequences.”

Todd Greenberg backed calls for the Mankad terminology to be changed. Picture: Christian Gilles

Cricket NSW put out a press release to call for Mankad as a term to be removed from the game’s terminology.

“It has been 75-years since Vinoo Mankad twice ran out Australian Bill Brown, drawing the ire of some in the game,” Germon said.

“Mankad has been vilified ever since, but for what? He carried out a legitimate act to dismiss a batter who was trying to gain an unfair advantage. Even the great Sir Donald Bradman has said there was nothing wrong with what Vinoo Mankad did.

“We now know this also conjures up a negative experience for many people and cricketers of Indian heritage. It is unfair and needs to stop.”

Vinoo Mankad played 44 Tests for India and was a superstar for India in the 40s and 50s.

Leading cricket journalist Bharat Sundaresan said that Australian stars Mitchell Starc and Zampa have played a massive role in changing the narrative of Mankading as white, non-Indian cricketers who have recently legitimised the dismissal.

As a result, Sundaresan can understand why Harsh Mankad wants the term to remain.

“For more than 60 years doing a Mankad has meant killing the spirit of cricket but now all of a sudden doing a Mankad means playing by the rules,” Sundaresan said.

“I think it’s a positive. I really think it’s a positive.

“Except for the English, everyone else has come on board and said it’s the right thing to do.

“I’m not surprised the family now wants that name to remain. Now he comes across as a hero. He did it before anyone else.”