Xtra Time Web Desk: Bangladesh team has started crying foul against Virat Kohli after loss against India in Super-12 clash on Wednesday at the Adelaide Oval. They have accused the star Indian batter of ‘fake fielding’ during India’s five-run victory in their T20 World Cup match in Adelaide.
The incident occurred in the seventh over of Bangladesh’s innings, when opening batter Litton Das played a ball out to deep point. As the return from Arshdeep Singh came in, Kohli, who was fielding on the circle, pretended to throw towards the bowlers end as the ball went past him.
Neither on-field umpire, Marais Erasmus or Chris Brown, took action at the time. The penalty for fake fielding is five runs, a sanction that takes on greater significance given it was India’s eventual margin of victory.
Following a rain delay, Bangladesh finished on 6/145, chasing an adjusted target of 151 from 16 overs.
Bangladesh cricketer Nurul Hasan complained about the incident during post-match conference.
Law 41.5 states that “it is unfair for any fielder wilfully to attempt, by word or action, to distract, deceive or obstruct either batter after the striker has received the ball.
”The bowler’s end umpire shall … award five penalty runs to the batting side, inform the captain of the fielding side of the reason for this action and as soon as practicable inform the captain of the batting side.”
It is not the first time that a controversy has erupted during an India Bangladesh match. It was here in Melbourne during 2015 World Cup, Bangladesh complained about a no ball against Rohit Sharma. The current Indian captain was caught off that no-ball being called by ICC Elite panel umpire Aleem Dar. Rohit went on to score a brilliant hundred to bat the Bangladeshis out of the match.