India off-spinner R Ashwin shared his opinion on the slightly controversial incident in the first ODI between India and Sri Lanka when pacer Mohammad Shami ran out Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka at the non-striker’s end when he was on 98.
Sri Lanka was nowhere near the target of 374 which India had set, but Shanaka was nearing individual glory. Shami bowled the last over of the match and on the 4th delivery ran out Shanaka at the non-striker’s end with the batter on 98 and then appealed for the same as well.
On-field umpire Nitin Menon called for a TV review, while captain Rohit Sharma and Shami discussed the issue and then Shami laughingly told Menon that they had withdrawn the appeal.
Ashwin, on his YouTube channel, said it is a “legitimate” mode of dismissal.
“Of course, Shami’s run out. When Shanaka was on 98, Shami ran him out in the non-striker’s end, and he appealed too. Rohit withdrew that appeal. So many people tweeted about that immediately. I am going to keep repeating only one thing, guys. The game situation is immaterial. That is a legitimate form of dismissal,” said Ashwin on his YouTube channel.
“And if you ask an lbw appeal or a caught-behind appeal, nobody will check with the captain on whether they are sure with the appeal like a Sarath Kumar or an Amitabh Bachchan in Kaun Banega Crorepati. They will give him out if the bowler appeals and that is the end of it. See, even if one fielder appeals, it is the duty of the umpire to declare a player out if he is out,” said Ashwin.
Ashwin also blamed umpires for not following the rule book.
“I find it very surprising to have so many taboos surrounding this mode of dismissal. But the entire dismissal is regarding what the bowler does, right? The right of making that dismissal or making that appeal or making that decision lies with the bowler, right?
In so many games, a batter has nicked and walked without waiting for the umpire’s decision. At that time, the batting team captain won’t come and ask, “With whose permission did you walk like that? Did you forget the team’s cause? Go back and continue playing. “So, these different treatments for bowlers and batters have been taking place for so many years now” he added.
