Chhattisgarh Captain Mohammad Kaif does a ‘Gavaskar’ at Jadavpur University Ground

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A snap when the match was stopped. Image Source: Facebook

Internet Desk: Almost three and a half decades after the infamous walkout incident in the Melbourne Test by the former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar, today Chhattisgarh Captain Mohammad Kaif did almost the same against Karnataka to remind that controversial gesture of Gavaskar in the Vijay Hazare Trophy match at the Jadavpur University ground.

Chasing a target of 200 to win, Karnataka were three without loss when Mayank Agarwal, who was batting on one, edged a ball to Chhattisgarh wicket-keeper Manoj Singh from Omkar Verma’s delivery in the third over. Skipper Mohammed Kaif from first sleep and the whole Chhattisgarh team appealed for a low catch which was taken by Manoj.

Virender Sharma, the standing umpire discussed about the incident with his fellow on-field umpire at square leg, Umesh Debey and gave his decision in favour of Agarwal.

Immediately, Kaif requested the umpires to ask for a television referral as it was available in the tournament. But the umpires didn’t listen to him as they thought it was not out and stick to their decision.

After the incident, Kaif told his team-mates to leave the ground in protest of the controversial decision given by the umpires.

Match referee Nitin Goel intervened the issue after this chaos and managed to calm Kaif and the play resumed after eight minutes of interruption.

Karnataka won the match by 3 wickets and Mayank Agarwal played a knock of 66 runs from 76 balls which helped his team to win the match.

After the match Chhattisgarh team management told that if there is an option of taking a television referral in all BCCI Domestic tournaments then what is the point of not using it during a tricky call.

A question is also arising about the on field umpires, that why they are not asking for a third umpire’s decision during a controversial call on tricky catches.

It is also written in BCCI’s website’s rule number 3.2.3 that if there is any confusion about any catches during the match the umpires can refer it to the third umpire.

The incident, which stopped the play for eight minutes, was not an ideal example for the younger cricketers of Chhattisgarh, playing domestic cricket in their debut season.

In a hearing after the game, match referee Nitin Goel held Kaif responsible for the chaos. Goel gave a warning to Chhattisgarh skipper and ordered deduction of his match fees.

In another match Bengal lost to Ranji Champion Gujarat by 7 wickets on Monday. Skipper Parthiv Patel (88) top scored for Gujarat. Manoj and co. will return to the city on Tuesday. Bengal will face Kedar Jadhav’s Maharashtra in the quarter-finals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy on March 14.