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During MI Cape Town's league game against Joburg Super Kings (JSK), former West Indies cricketer Kieron Pollard's time-wasting tactics drew immense criticism from fans. The controversy unfolded on January 29 in a rain-affected match, where JSK, led by captain Faf du Plessis and opener Leus du Ploy, were chasing a revised target of 98 runs from 8 overs.
The contentious moment arose at the start of the fourth over, with JSK having already notched up 57 runs. Pollard, captain of MI Cape Town, apparently tried to slow down the game by instructing fast bowler Kagiso Rabada to abort his run-up just before delivering the ball. This act, which incensed du Plessis, was seen as an attempt by Pollard to delay the game in hopes of rain intervening.
Faf du Plessis was visibly unhappy with Pollard's tactics and the JSK captain let it known to this counterpart and the on-field umpires.
Pollard's strategy hinged on the rule that if JSK did not complete a minimum of 5 overs in their innings, the match would not be considered complete and would be declared a no-result. This tactic, however, did not sit well with fans, who expressed their displeasure towards Pollard.
Despite Pollard's efforts, JSK successfully chased the target in just 5.4 overs. Du Plessis and Duploy aggressively countered MI Cape Town's bowling, leading to JSK's triumph in the rain-affected game. This outcome had a significant impact on the tournament standings, with MI Cape Town falling to the bottom of the points table, while JSK climbed to the fourth spot. The points table is currently topped by Durban Super Giants, who have accumulated 28 points in 8 matches.
This incident highlights the competitive nature of the tournament and the lengths teams might go to secure favorable outcomes, sometimes leading to strategies that can attract criticism from fans and fellow players alike.
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