Kumar Sangakkara denied his role in the Virender Sehwag-century issue after stumps microphone caught voice giving ‘no-ball instruction’.
It was probably one of the most bizarre moments in sports. India at 170, needing one run to win against Sri Lanka. Virender Sehwag at 99, needing one run for his 13th ton. Plenty of balls to go. Next. Sehwag smashes the ball over the boundary, and raises his bat in jubilation. The umpire signals no-ball. The scorecard reads India 171, Sehwag* 99.
It is ironical that a squad, known for its genial brand of cricket as well as for being at the receiving end in the dirty tricks department, should deliberately deny an opposing batsman a century. Yet that is certain if one was to look at the countless replays playing on TV throughout Tuesday. Lankan bowler Suraj Randiv overstepped the line by an unnaturally large margin.
As Indian team manager Ranjib Biswal said: “If you go by the rules, it’s very much lawful. There is no violation of cricket rules. But when it comes to spirit of cricket and gamesmanship, one feels slighted about these things.
“Since they have expressed their regret and apologised for their action, we should put an end to this episode.”
But the Lankan cricket board has instituted an inquiry into the incident. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) secretary Nishantha Ranatunga has sought footage of the last three balls. Team manager Anura Tennekoon, who has been asked to conduct the inquiry, is expected to submit the report in a couple of days.
Just before the ball was bowled, the stumps microphone captured a voice saying in Sinhalese: “If he hits the ball, he gets the hundred.” The needle of suspicion points at captain and wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara, who was closest to the microphone. Just a couple of balls earlier, he had conceded four byes with an unusually shoddy display of keeping.
Sangakkara, however, categorically told DNA: “I never instructed Suraj to bowl a no-ball. I hope we reach the bottom of the incident. An inquiry is on and I hope the panel will come out with the truth."
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