The last one week of has pulled out many controversies.These incidents are so ugly that one might still wonder if cricket is still a Gentleman's game.This blog is about these incidents and where the future of cricket is heading to.
It is so disheartening that there have been not one but three incidents in past one week which have put a dark spot on cricket which is considered a gentleman's game.To start with the ugliest
1.The ball-tampering scandal
This tampering was done during the third test match between Australia and South Africa.The whole Australian team was involved in ball tampering.This is not the first ball tampering incident but this is the first time when the whole team is involved in ball tampering which also includes the coach.It also started when the two on-field umpires called Cameron Bancroft in suspicion of tampering the ball.But he said that he had a sunglass cleaner which he used to clean his sunglasses and not tamper the ball.But later in the day videos came out which clearly showed that Bancroft had tampered the ball.Not only this there were pieces of evidence that even the coach and all his teammates were also involved in this scandal.Finally, late in evening Steve Smith came out and admitted that he had tampered ball during the game and disclosed that all "top authorities" knew about this incident.This even came as a shocker because Steve Smith is the current best test batsman in the world and is said to be a role model for many young players.Not only this what was even more shameful is the fact that he involved a youngster like Bancroft in this scandal.He might not face a severe punishment from the ICC, maybe one-match ban at most, but he has spoiled the spirit of the game, he has cheated the sport.Steve Smith and David Warner have stepped down as the captain and vice-captain of the team and surely will face many more consequences in future.Steve Smith has also been taken down as captain of Rajasthan Royals.There are speculations that the players involved must be given a long ban.But I believe that only the captain, vice-captain and the coach deserve a long ban, rest all should be left with a warning.I can't believe that people as experienced as Warner and Smith thought that they would get away 24 cameras on the field.
2.Nidahas Trophy incident
The Bangladesh team was under the scanner during the Nidahas Trophy for pulling out two controversial incidents.Both these incidents happened during the do or die match against Sri Lanka.The first incident happened when in a controversial decision both the teams were involved in a verbal spat on the field.This is not something very new but what happened next was very disgusting.Shakib Al Hasan came down to the field and tried to call his team back.Now, this was really not good sportsman spirit because verbal spats keep on happening on the field but no one calls off their team from an ongoing match.With someone as experienced as Shakib Al Hasan in the team, one does not expect such behavior.
But this was not it after Bangladesh won the match, they went back to the dressing room and started celebrating.There is nothing wrong in celebrating but in this case, they celebrated in an absurd way and broke the glass of the pavilion.This was again an ugly incident which would stay with the Bangladesh team for a long time.
Seeing these two incidents it seems a certain whether cricket still qualifies to be a gentleman's game.The most disgusting part of both the incidents was that the incidents involved some of the great ambassadors of the game.Be it Shakib Al Hasan or Steve Smith both are great cricketers.I hope ICC takes strict action against such indiscipline and cricketers respect the decorum of the game in future.
It is so disheartening that there have been not one but three incidents in past one week which have put a dark spot on cricket which is considered a gentleman's game.To start with the ugliest
1.The ball-tampering scandal
This tampering was done during the third test match between Australia and South Africa.The whole Australian team was involved in ball tampering.This is not the first ball tampering incident but this is the first time when the whole team is involved in ball tampering which also includes the coach.It also started when the two on-field umpires called Cameron Bancroft in suspicion of tampering the ball.But he said that he had a sunglass cleaner which he used to clean his sunglasses and not tamper the ball.But later in the day videos came out which clearly showed that Bancroft had tampered the ball.Not only this there were pieces of evidence that even the coach and all his teammates were also involved in this scandal.Finally, late in evening Steve Smith came out and admitted that he had tampered ball during the game and disclosed that all "top authorities" knew about this incident.This even came as a shocker because Steve Smith is the current best test batsman in the world and is said to be a role model for many young players.Not only this what was even more shameful is the fact that he involved a youngster like Bancroft in this scandal.He might not face a severe punishment from the ICC, maybe one-match ban at most, but he has spoiled the spirit of the game, he has cheated the sport.Steve Smith and David Warner have stepped down as the captain and vice-captain of the team and surely will face many more consequences in future.Steve Smith has also been taken down as captain of Rajasthan Royals.There are speculations that the players involved must be given a long ban.But I believe that only the captain, vice-captain and the coach deserve a long ban, rest all should be left with a warning.I can't believe that people as experienced as Warner and Smith thought that they would get away 24 cameras on the field.
2.Nidahas Trophy incident
The Bangladesh team was under the scanner during the Nidahas Trophy for pulling out two controversial incidents.Both these incidents happened during the do or die match against Sri Lanka.The first incident happened when in a controversial decision both the teams were involved in a verbal spat on the field.This is not something very new but what happened next was very disgusting.Shakib Al Hasan came down to the field and tried to call his team back.Now, this was really not good sportsman spirit because verbal spats keep on happening on the field but no one calls off their team from an ongoing match.With someone as experienced as Shakib Al Hasan in the team, one does not expect such behavior.
But this was not it after Bangladesh won the match, they went back to the dressing room and started celebrating.There is nothing wrong in celebrating but in this case, they celebrated in an absurd way and broke the glass of the pavilion.This was again an ugly incident which would stay with the Bangladesh team for a long time.
Seeing these two incidents it seems a certain whether cricket still qualifies to be a gentleman's game.The most disgusting part of both the incidents was that the incidents involved some of the great ambassadors of the game.Be it Shakib Al Hasan or Steve Smith both are great cricketers.I hope ICC takes strict action against such indiscipline and cricketers respect the decorum of the game in future.
I slightly disagree with your opinion , even though these incidents reflect as a bad example to the younger generation , i do not think that these mere incidents disqualify the title "Gentleman's Game" , many similar incidents have occured in the past by some famous people , be it Waqar Younis in 2000 , Sachin Tendulkar, the god of cricket himself in 2001(though cleared of charges ) or Rahul Dravid in 2004 who was found guilty and fined later . Many other instances have resurfaced in the past but i believe a surface can never be completely white and you may always find a small black flaw in it and hence the case here so we cannot disqualify the "gentleman's game" so easily.
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