This mode of dismissal is akin to back-stabbing: BCCI official on Ashwin ‘mankading’ Buttler

New Delhi: Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) skipper Ravichandran Ashwin might have called his decision to ‘mankad’ Rajasthan Royals (RR) batsman Jos Buttler in Jaipur on Monday as instinctive, but the Royals weren’t impressed, with skipper Ajinkya Rahane, head coach Paddy Upton and brand ambassador Shane Warne making their displeasure known.

With the matter snowballing, even the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has said that the captain should have maintained decorum and that even the match officials failed in their duty. (ALSO READ: ‘It’s too late to say sorry Mr. Ashwin, you will be remembered for that low act’)

A senior BCCI official said that only cricketing skills should be used on the pitch to dismiss batsmen and that gives out the correct message to those watching and learning.

“The match officials have failed in their duty with the handling of 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 both 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,” the official said. (ALSO READ: It was instinctive: Ashwin on mankading Buttler)

Another official said that these things impact the popularity of the individual and criticism is bound to follow.

“This mode of dismissal is akin to back-stabbing. That is why it will always be criticised. It gets you the result, but you surely won’t win a popularity contest this way,” he said.

But the official added that two wrongs don’t make one right and Buttler should have left what happened on the field and shaken hands with Ashwin after the game. (ALSO READ: R Ashwin dupes Jos Buttler: Five times that ‘mankading’ made headlines)

“Buttler not shaking hands with Ashwin after the game was also against the spirit of the game. Both these things are inexcusable where the spirit of the game is concerned,” the official said.