Though Cricket is called a gentleman”s game, there have been some bad boys who have done wrong acts and defamed their teams as well as cricket as a sport!
Here is a look at top 5 controversies:-
- Shoaib Akhtar”s drugs controversy
The Rawalpindi Express has been controversy”s favorite kid. His career has been marred by controversies, injuries and poor attitude, one of them being drug controversies. In October 2006 before Champions Trophy, Akhtar and his teammate Mohammad Asif tested positive to nandrolone (a banned performance-enhancing substance), subsequently they were pulled out of champions trophy. On 1 November 2006 Pakistan cricket Board banned Akhtar and Asif for 2 years. However, on 5 December 2006 they were acquitted of the charges by Akhtar”s lawyer.
– by Atharva Apte
- Monkeygate
The second test of Border Gavaskar Trophy 2008 is famous for umpiring howlers and a face-off between Harbhajan and Andrew Symonds. It is reported that umpires Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor made 11 umpiring mistakes of which 8 were against India. In the second innings when Harbhajan was batting on 63* an altercation took place between him and Andrew Symonds, following which Harbhajan was accused of racial abuse and banned for 3 tests by match referee Mike Proctor. Indian team threatened to pull out off the tour. However during the second hearing, Harbhajan was acquitted of the charges.
- Aluminum bat controversy
It happened during 1979 test at the WACA. Australia were in trouble at the end of day 1 at 232/8. On the second morning Dennis Lilliee came out to bat not with a wooden bat but an aluminum bat. This was not the first time he had used an aluminum bat and during that time there was no rule as such. England captain Mike Brearley complained that the aluminum bat was damaging the ball. Lilliee had to change the bat. The match was quite a thriller and Australia won with only 14.4 overs left in the day. Geoffrey Boycott carried his “wooden bat” remaining not out on 99.
- Spot-Fixing controversy 2010
The glorious turf of the Home of Cricket Lord”s was disgraced when Pakistani pacers Mohammad Asif and Mohammed Amir accepted money from bookie Majhar Majeed to deliberately bowl no balls. Asif, Amir and Pakistani Captain Salman Butt were arrested for their involvement in spot fixing. On 5 February 2011 ICC banned Butt for 5 years, Asif for 7 years and Amir for 5 years. On 1 November 2011 all 3 were found guilty of conspiracy to cheat and were handed jail terms, 30 months for Butt, 1 year for Asif, 6 months for Amir and 2 years for Majhar Majeed. This was the biggest scandal that shook the cricket world in the past decade.
- Jelly bean controversy 2007
A rare instance of a confectionery spicing up a hot battle!! On 29 July 2007 during India vs England test at Trent Bridge, Zaheer Khan came out to bat in the last session and saw some Jelly Beans on the wicket. He stuck them off with his bat. Again English fielders threw more jelly beans on the wicket. This time being upset, he walked up to the English fielders and asked, “What”s this guys? I”m here to play cricket!” He went after Pietersen who was standing at Gully and later admitted that Pietersen was the wrong man he went after. Being so angry with this incident, he destroyed English line up next day and swung the match in India”s favour!!
– by Atharva Apte