Abdul Qadir urges ICC to amend Mankad law

Published February 2, 2016
A controversial run out in the last over earned West Indies U-19s a place in the quarterfinals of the Under-19 World Cup.—Photo courtesy: ICC
A controversial run out in the last over earned West Indies U-19s a place in the quarterfinals of the Under-19 World Cup.—Photo courtesy: ICC

KARACHI: Former Pakistan cricketer Abdul Qadir has called on to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to bring amendments in the Mankad law.

A controversial run out in the last over earned West Indies U-19 a place in the quarterfinals of the Under-19 World Cup on Tuesday as fast bowler Keemo Paul removed the bails at the bowler's end with the Zimbabwean batsman a fraction out of his ground.

The practice, known as a Mankad, is rare and widely seen as unsporting.

Traditionally, a bowler warns a batsman if he is leaving his crease too early, but Paul gave Zimbabwean batsman Richard Ngarava no warning, even though the batsman did not appear to be seeking an advantage.

Qadir said that the batsman should be warned once if he is consistently going out of his crease while the ball is being bowled.

“The ICC along with all cricketers should consider Spirit of Cricket as their top priority,” he said.

“If this law is not altered, such things will happen again,” added the former leg-spin great.

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

Onfield 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.

Qadir was at the crease end when Saleem Jaffer — his partner on the non-striker’s end — was warned by West Indian fast-bowler Courtney Walsh when he was continuously leaving the crease while Walsh was in his follow-through during the 1987 cricket World Cup.

“People still remember that incident and praise Walsh for the spirit he displayed,” said Qadir.

“At the Under-19 level, the team captains and the umpires should avoid giving decisions in this fashion,” he added.

Australia coach Darren Lehmann took to twitter to condemn the West Indies tactic.

“Unbelievable. Not Out,” he wrote.

Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming tweeted, “this is not a good look, absolutely disgraceful behaviour!!”

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.

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