The air was murky over Delhi and it has been this way for as long as its citizens can remember. But what transpired during the World Cup match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday was even more grim. It was a stab into the heart of a sport with its ‘Gentleman’s Game’ tag.
It is another matter that cricket’s morals and its much-debated ‘spirit of the game’ have declined over the years. Sport isn’t utopia and cricket never was. Captains always read the fine-print beneath the laws and use all methods that are available to pinch a win.
Still, despite all these caveats, what Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan did to Sri Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews was terrible. To time-out a batter, a first in international cricket, is a new low. The rules do specify two minutes for the new batter to take strike and Shakib played by that pointer to scupper Mathews’ imminent tryst at the crease.
