The ongoing U-19 World Cup has managed to engage viewers and keep the national players involved as well. The group stage encounter between South Africa and West Indies caught everyone’s interest owing to a controversial decision. South African opener Jiveshan Pillay was looking in good touch before falling for 47. He played forward defensive, bent down, and returned the ball (once it stopped) to the wicketkeeper. The West Indians, however, appealed for obstruction off field, and the umpire had to rule in favour of them. This drew flak from many cricketers, present and past. Amidst all this, MCC has stated that there was nothing illegal about the dismissal.
The South African batsman Jiveshan Pillay was given out for this in the Under 19 World Cup game against the West Indies #U19CWC pic.twitter.com/abLvn9NrCb
Rudi (@RudiEdsall) January 17, 2018
Here’s what MCC’s official website clarified
“This Law has been questioned why should a batsman be punished for being helpful? The reason behind it is that a fielding team will often take enormous care to maintain the condition of the ball and they are allowed to do so. Any external influence on the ball including a sweaty glove could change its condition unfairly.
“Batsmen are therefore, instructed to leave the ball to the fielding side unless given specific consent to pick it up. It may seem harsh, but a scenario in which batsmen could, without any punishment, interfere with the ball would be far more problematic. Instead, all a batsman needs to remember is not to return the ball to any fielder without consent as the popular adage goes: batsmen bat, bowlers bowl and let the fielders field.
“There is another matter surrounding the often misunderstood Spirit of Cricket that has arisen around this incident. Some people have questioned whether the fielding captain should have withdrawn his appeal.”
To remind the readers, Law 37.4 of ICC states: “Either batsman is out Obstructing the field if, at any time while the ball is in play and, without the consent of a fielder, he/she uses the bat or any part of his/her person to return the ball to any fielder.”
Some social media responses
This is a absolute joke…not in the spirit of the game .I have done this almost a 100 times. https://t.co/nX0KUJ9PI4
Faf Du Plessis (@faf1307) January 17, 2018
It is all good if you re warned for backing up to far to run you out, but as a former WI player and coach yesterday s dismissal leaves a terrible taste in my mouth if you can t win without stooping so low, you shouldn t be there #playhardbutplayfair
Phil Simmons (@Coachsim13) January 18, 2018
In the end South Africa had the last laugh courtesy a 76-run win. In pursuit of 283, West Indies U-19 folded for 206.