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Cricket greats slam Mankad dismissal at U19 Cricket World Cup

EVERYONE from Adam Gilchrist to Australian coach Darren Lehmann has blasted this cricket dismissal, which left an entire team in tears.

Tyson OttoTyson Otto
@tottodtsport
3 min read
February 3, 2016 - 1:14PM

IT’S just not cricket.

An Under-19 Cricket World Cup match between the West Indies and Zimbabwe in Bangladesh has exploded in controversy following a sensational Mankad dismissal at the death of a tight run-chase.

The condemned wicket in the final over gave the Windies a spot in the quarter-finals amid incredible scenes.

Australian coach Darren Lehmann, wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist and former New Zealand captain Stephen Flemming led the chorus of outrage against the dismissal, labelling the West Indies’ actions “disgraceful”.

With the game on the line, fast bowler Keemo Paul removed the bails at the bowler’s end with the batsman a fraction out of his ground.

He gave no warning to the batsman.

Zimbabwe needed only three runs in the 50th over with one wicket in hand for a place in the last eight, but Paul broke the stumps without entering his delivery stride as last man Richard Ngarava stood a few steps outside his popping crease with his bat resting on the line.

The umpires conferred before asking West Indies players whether they wanted to uphold the appeal against a decision which was within the rules of the game.

Once West Indies players confirmed they wanted to go ahead with the appeal, the television umpire was consulted and Ngarava’s bat was found to be just on the line.

Zimbabwe captain Brandon Mavuta was in tears and said: “We got so close, no comment about it. I don’t have anything to say right now.”

Zimbabwe coach Stephen Mangongo said he was happy with the way his side had fought in the match.

“I am disappointed with the way the game ended. I have debriefed the boys in the dressing room and they were all crying,” he said.

“We have explained that technically the run-out is legal. We left it to the last man and we should not have done that. It was a hard lesson and they have learnt it the hard way.”

The Mankad is named after Indian bowler Vinoo Mankad, who created controversy when he dismissed Australian batsman Bill Brown in a similar manner at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1947.

Cricket greats condemned the dismissal, saying the rules of the sport need to be changed.

Under the laws of cricket, the bowler is able to run out a batsman “before entering his delivery stride”.

“The bowler is permitted, before entering his delivery stride, to attempt to run out the non-striker,” Law 42, section 15, for Fair and Unfair Play states in The Laws of Cricket.

“Whether the attempt is successful or not, the ball shall not count as one of the over.

“If the bowler fails in an attempt to run out the non-striker, the umpire shall call and signal dead ball as soon as possible.”

Cricketing greats spoke out against the dismissal, declaring it a stain on the sport.

However not everyone believes the West Indies were in the wrong. Some cricketing personalities gave clemency to the fielding side for acting within the rules of the game.

Indian allrounder Ravichandran Ashwin even said Paul should be considerede a “hero” for winning the match for his team.

Despite the widespread condemnation, West Indies captain Shimron Hetmyer said the controversial incident is “not a big deal for us”.

“I would say yes, cricket is a game of uncertainties,” he said.

“We’ve seen it happen in cricket before. It’s not a big deal for us.

“It’s probably not in the spirit of the game, but we’re happy to have won.”

Zimbabwe were all out for 224 from 49 overs. The West Indies officially won by two runs, but they have lost the respect of many cricket fans.

— with AP

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/cricket-greats-slam-mankad-dismissal-at-u19-cricket-world-cup/news-story/e4134bb470e2482f0a17dc4dedba6c1f