Adam Zampa's attempted run out at non-striker end in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) 2022-23 earlier this week sparked the 'Mankad' debate again. While the appeal was turned down by the umpire after watching the replay and Melbourne Renegades batter Tom Rogers got a reprieve, Melbourne Stars skipper Zampa was targetted by many. Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also reacted to the issue lauding Zampa. The veteran Indian all-rounder also slammed Melbourne Stars’ coach David Hussey for saying that he would have withdrawn the appeal had Rogers been given out.
“I don’t believe what he said. Because if you wanted to withdraw the appeal, you need not have taken that to the third umpire itself. You could have easily withdrawn that appeal even before it had gone to the third umpire. First of all, why should you withdraw the appeal? A bowler is running the non-striker out. The captain will say that the bowler is wrong or what? What a big insult that is to the bowler if the captain is withdrawing the appeal,” said Ashwin on his official YouTube channel.
"If I am standing there as a bowler and appealing for this dismissal, and if the captain or coach says that they are withdrawing the appeal, it is very insulting. Because once you do that, as a bowler, you will feel that what is the point in bowling when your team is not backing you? My team captain and coach themselves are not backing me. Why should I bowl and win you the game then?
“The bowlers will feel depressed once you do that. And David Hussey was like, ‘This is not how you play cricket’. Sir, this is now how you want to play cricket. But for that, you can’t assume and say, ‘This is now how you should also play cricket’. This is absolutely wrong,” he added.
Ashwin who had also been on the receiving end of harsh criticism from many current and former cricketers said that he is fed up of the same debate over and over again. Last year, Marylebone Cricket Council (MCC) had termed the dismissal as run out and clarified the rules for the non-striker.
“I am tired of talking or writing about this topic. Every time this incident happens, there are preachers who hop in and start preaching. But the best thing I loved from this whole incident is the stare given by Adam Zampa after running out the non-striker. It was similar to The Undertaker’s stare in World Wrestling Federation. He didn’t even say a word to the batsman. The batsman also stood in silence without knowing whether it was out or not out,” the 36-year-old said.
“People will talk about the legality of the dismissal. That he has completed his action and stuff like that. But see, he was about to bowl, and the non-striker had started running. In fact, the rule clearly states that you can run anywhere as soon as the bowler releases since he can’t run you out anymore once he releases. If you ask me if the non-striker starts running once the bowler releases, that in itself is an advantage for the non-striker. Because the batsman hasn’t made an impact yet. And I don’t know how many balls come back to the bowler as the batter rarely plays defense in T20.”
