Ben Stokes says he would never ‘Mankad’ Virat Kohli

New Delhi, March 26 (IANS) After all the debate over Kings XI Punjab skipper R Ashwin's decision to 'Mankad' Rajasthan Royal batsman Jos Buttler on Monday, Royals brand ambassador Shane Warne asked his fans on Twitter if they would accept English all-rounder Ben Stokes doing the same to India skipper Virat Kohli.

While fans have started debating it, Stokes made it clear he would never do anything like this.

"Hopefully I'm playing in the World Cup final and if @imVkohli is batting when I'm bowling I would never ever ever ever ever ever.....just clarifying to the mentions I've received ?? #hallabol," he wrote on Twitter.

The issue has snowballed and even the BCCI has said as captain Ashwin should have maintained the decorum.

"The match officials have failed in their duty to handle this issue. Buttler ought to have been adjudged not out if the laws were applied squarely to the situation. Ashwin also must understand that laws and the spirit of the game have to be kept in mind.

"A player is supposed to deceive the other with his cricketing skills and not with shady skills. If the batsman is taking advantage, deal with it in the right way -- as a gentleman. Competitiveness is all very well, but a standard of decorum ought to be maintained," a board official told IANS.

Former India spinner Erapalli Prasanna also pulled Ashwin up for his act and said the captain terming the action as 'instinctive' wasn't true.

"He is feeling guilty and he is trying to cover up. I don't think he is clear to himself. He is bluffing. He is not telling the truth," Prasanna told IANS.

"I (Ashwin) did it in the heat of the moment, all these things does not apply. Even a school cricketer knows, a batsman has to be cautioned. It has to be fair play. Most important point is, such an action is taken after cautioning the non-striker, telling him that he is leaving the crease much before the ball is delivered," Prasanna said.

-- IANS
bbh/pcj

( 349 Words)

2019-03-26-16:04:09