Ravichandran Ashwin has highlighted the lack of outrage over the US being docked five runs during the match against India in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
The T20 World Cup co-hosts became the first team to be penalized under new stopwatch regulations that have become a permanent feature in men’s ODIs and T20Is since the beginning of this month. According to the new rule, the field team must start the next one again within one minute of the conclusion of the previous one.
If the fielding team fails to comply, they will receive two warnings before subsequent violations result in a 5-run penalty. As a result, the United States was penalized five runs after failing to start the next match on time for the third time in the game.
They suffered the penalty at a crucial moment in the game. India were in trouble and needed 35 runs from the last 5 overs on a difficult batting pitch. However, the penalty reduced the equation of running the ball and India won the game by 7 wickets.
Ravichandran Ashwin is unhappy at the lack of outrage:
A couple of days after the incident in New York, Ravichandran Ashwin shared his opinion on the matter. Without mincing words, the India star recalled how there was huge outrage everywhere after Angelo Mathews was given a time-out during the match against Bangladesh in the ODI World Cup last year. Ashwin opined that there is no outrage over the recent incident because it favored the batting side.
“Now, they have given a five-run penalty. Some people said they didn’t understand anything. But there is no fuss about this. Likewise, if the batsman comes late to the crease, you can appeal and get a wicket.
“Mathews was given an out in the 50-over World Cup. In the same way, if a side exploits the same rule it is not a big crime. Because it is a feat on the bowling field. If it is exploited in batting field, it becomes a big problem. I can’t understand it. I think there is a bias between both sides of the game,” Ravichandran Ashwin said in a video posted on his YouTube channel.
“That’s the only problem for me. Because a rule is a rule. If I know this is a rule, if I make a mistake on that rule, I’ll get a penalty for those five races. I deserve it. That’s how I see it. “They gave a rule, right? According to that rule, I have a duty to follow it. If I don’t follow that rule, I am ready to face the consequences, and they must be prepared to face the consequences,” he added.
Meanwhile, India has already booked its place in the Super 8s of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup. The United States can also join India in the next round if they can beat Ireland in their final group match.
