Fine on Shakib-Nurul fine, says Russel Arnold
Ahead of the final against India, Russel Arnold had some things to share about the Bangladesh national team. Speaking of the incident that occurred during the game between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, the former Sri Lankan left-handed batsman believes that the cobra dance is a bit too much.
According to him, both teams were right from their perspective since the umpires made a meal of the scenario, but the fracas that ensued later was too much and should never have a place on a cricket field.
“Yes, there was some confusion there, but the finger-pointing and the heat of the moment are… I think they are just going overboard with this cobra dance and trying to mock each other out of the game, we have seen that at every opportunity from both teams actually.
“It is something that stems from the Bangladesh home series which Sri Lanka did win. But what happened yesterday was that [in the] last over Isuru Udana bowled a bouncer and then he went on to bowl another, both were legal deliveries, meaning it is just above the shoulder and below head level.
“But the umpires didn’t call the first bouncer, so they couldn’t go on to call the second one. So both teams are basically right in their arguments, Bangladesh saying that is a second bouncer and should have been a no-ball. On the other hand, Isuru Udana saying ‘you didn’t call the first one that is why I bowled the second because I thought it was not above’, which is again a fair call.
“The square leg umpire did stick his hand out and then with consultation with the head umpire, they decided that they can’t go on to call that a no-ball, so a lot of confusion [arose], but you can understand why the players were upset.
“The game was on the line from Sri Lanka’s point of view as well as Bangladesh’s point of view. But everything that happened after that… the pushing the shoving, I thought that they are just taking it to another level, which just shouldn’t happen.”
Meanwhile, Shakib Al Hasan and Quazi Nurul Hasan Shohan were fined 25% of their respective match fees for their part in the ungentlemanly conduct during their time on the field. When asked whether the punishment was too lenient, Arnold said that the ICC needed to get the message across—and the fine was a decent way to do it.
“I think they made the right decision, I mean we haven’t come across such situation in the past. Just to send a message across, it is also up to the players to be responsible about what they are doing and get on with the game. At the end of the day, you don’t want half the team suspended going into a tournament final, so that wouldn’t be good for cricket either.
“So from ICC point of view, it is about getting the message across and putting the responsibility on Shakib to maintain discipline among his ranks.”
