Non-sportsmanship leaves a bad taste in the mouth by Bipin Dani

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Ground:	Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast
Scorecard:	Ireland v Afghanistan
Player:	EC Joyce
Event:	Afghanistan in Ireland 2016

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DateLine: 19th July 2016

 

Mumbai, July 18 : On Sunday when the former England wicket-keeper Bob Taylor turned 75, Ireland opener Ed Joyce was not as lucky as him.

 

Unlike Taylor, who was recalled by India's G.R. Vishwanath in the Jubilee Test (1980, Mumbai) after being given out by the umpire, Afghanistan team didn't show the same sportsmanship of withdrawing appeal against him.

 

In the 4th ODI against visiting Ireland at the Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast, Joyce hit the ball to extra cover and stopped running when he thought it had gone to the boundary, but the chasing fielders got the ball back in and when the throw was gathered the opener was declared run out.

 

Afghanistan captain Asghar Stanikzai was asked by one of the umpires (India's C. Shamshuddin and Ireland's Alan Neil) to withdraw his side's appeal but when the tourists refused Joyce was declared out.

 

"I am very surprised to see the pictures and videos of the incident involving my brother and the run out. I am disappointed that Mohammad Nabi (fielder) didn't think that he should admit that he was over the rope while touching the ball", Ed Joyce's sister Isobol Joyce, who has also played for the women team in Ireland, said exclusively.

 

"Sometimes like this not only impacts the result but leaves a bad taste in the mouth and does not teach fair play and sportsmanship to younger players", she added.

 

"They should have withdrawn the appeal", the sister, who was busy playing her own match, added.

 

It may also be recalled here that Joyce was once luckier when his bails landed back on wicket after hitting the stump in the World Cup match against UAE (Brisbane 2015)

 

(Article: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
Copyright © 2016 Bipin Dani)