Sports

ICC Faces Allegations of ‘Corruption’ Amid Concussion Substitute Controversy

Published

1 year ago

February 4, 2025

The controversy surrounding India’s decision to bring in Harshit Rana as a concussion substitute for Shivam Dube during the fourth T20I on Friday continues, with Chris Broad, a prominent match referee for the International Cricket Council (ICC), accusing the organization of “bias and corruption.”

Dube, who had already scored a half-century, was hit on the head by Jamie Overton on the second-to-last delivery of India’s innings. Head coach Gautam Gambhir took advantage of the concussion protocol to replace Dube—a bowler who bowls in the early 120 km/h range—with the faster Rana.

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Despite this controversy, Rana had a successful debut, taking 3 wickets for 33 runs, helping India secure a 15-run victory and clinching the T20 series with one match remaining.

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Broad expressed his concerns on social media, stating, “Independent match officials were intended to prevent scenarios like this! Why is the ICC reverting to the ‘bad old days’ of bias and corruption?”

In another post, the former England opener advocated for the inclusion of a neutral match referee. He criticized Javagal Srinath, who officiated the fourth T20I, and supported the claim that match officials should be independent to avoid any bias. “How can an Indian match referee justify allowing an Indian replacement?” he questioned.

Before the game on Sunday, former England player Kevin Pietersen also addressed the issue, urging Srinath to acknowledge his mistake in permitting Harshit Rana as Dube’s substitute. “The concussion substitute debate is currently significant, and in my opinion… it was NEVER a like-for-like replacement. The match referee should admit the error and move forward,” he tweeted.

Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin shared his perspective on the situation, asking, “Did we forget this is an international game and not an IPL match?” He noted that the primary conversation centered on how Harshit Rana came to replace Shivam Dube and pointed out past similar situations, such as Yuzvendra Chahal replacing Ravindra Jadeja, suggesting that the fairness of the replacement should be a point of concern.

“There’s no differentiation between the Indian or English teams. If no one else is available in the squad, I can see why they would consider bringing in a player like Harshit Rana. However, a like-for-like replacement like Ramandeep Singh was on the bench, which confuses me,” Ashwin added.

Ultimately, India triumphed in the series against England with a historic 4-1 victory, following a commanding 150-run win in Mumbai on Sunday.

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Sports

Bengaluru Police Issue Advisory Ahead of RCB’s IPL 2026 Final

Published

2 weeks ago

May 30, 2026

Namma Kudla

IPL 2026 :Bengaluru police have urged people to celebrate responsibly during and after the IPL 2026 final. RCB will play the final match on Sunday.

Police have banned public celebrations, bike rallies, road blockages, and stunt riding. Bursting crackers and setting up public LED screens without permission are also not allowed.

Authorities have asked people not to drink alcohol in public places or create disturbances. Citizens have also been warned against spreading rumours or posting offensive content on social media.

The advisory comes after a stampede during RCB’s victory celebrations last year, which claimed 11 lives. Police have appealed to fans to maintain peace and cooperate with officials to ensure public safety.

Sports

Tim David Faces Criticism for Obscene Celebration against Mumbai Indians

Published

1 month ago

May 11, 2026

Namma Kudla

IPL 2026 : In a dramatic IPL 2026 clash, Royal Challengers Bengaluru player Tim David has landed in controversy for allegedly making an obscene gesture after his team’s thrilling win against Mumbai Indians.

The incident took place during the 54th match of the Indian Premier League in Raipur. Batting first, Mumbai Indians scored 167 runs in 20 overs and set a competitive target for RCB.

While chasing the target, Royal Challengers Bengaluru needed 15 runs in the final over. The match went down to the last ball, where RCB required two runs for victory. Rasikh Dar helped the team secure a thrilling win in the final delivery.

Soon after the victory, Tim David, who was in the dugout, was seen allegedly showing his middle finger towards the Mumbai Indians camp during the celebrations. The video of the incident quickly went viral on social media and triggered criticism from cricket fans.

Reports suggest that match officials could take disciplinary action against the Australian batter. Under the ICC Code of Conduct, obscene or offensive gestures are considered a serious offence.

Such behaviour usually falls under Level 1 or Level 2 breaches of the ICC rules. Players found guilty can face fines ranging from 50 percent to 100 percent of their match fees. Demerit points may also be added to their disciplinary record. Repeated offences can even lead to suspension from matches.

Similar incidents have happened in the past as well. In 2012, Virat Kohli was fined 50 percent of his match fee for showing the middle finger to spectators during a match in Sydney.

Cricket is widely known as a “gentleman’s game,” and players are expected to maintain discipline and respect on the field. Tim David’s celebration has now sparked debate among fans and experts about sportsmanship in modern cricket.

Sports

Pooran Super over Call Sparks Criticism

Published

2 months ago

April 27, 2026

Namma Kudla

Sports: Lucknow Super Giants’ captain Rishabh Pant faced criticism after a failed Super Over decision against Kolkata Knight Riders. LSG sent Nicholas Pooran and Aiden Markram to bat, with Pooran on strike against Sunil Narine.

Pooran was bowled on the first ball, leading to heavy criticism from fans. Many questioned the decision, especially because Narine had earlier troubled Pooran in a past Super Over.

LSG coach Justin Langer defended the move. He said the team trusted Pooran as he has faced Narine many times and has a strong record against him. He added that teams must back their best players even in difficult moments.

Langer also said Pooran is one of the best T20 players in recent years but is currently low on confidence. He assured that the team is working hard to help him regain form

Despite being at the bottom of the table, LSG remains hopeful. Langer said the team will use the break to improve and aim to win their remaining matches.