ICC lays 'Mankading' to rest

New playing conditions in force from October 1NEW DELHI: The International Cricket Council's (ICC) chief executives' committee has ratified a slew of changes to the playing conditions which will come into effect from October 1, the most prominent among them being a belated attempt to destigmatize the controversial practice of 'Mankading', or running out a batter at the non-striker's end. For decades, the move, which takes its name from the legendary Vinoo Mankad's similar run out of Bill Brown during India's 1948 tour of Australia, has been considered against the 'spirit of the game' even though it is perfectly legal according to cricket's laws.

Now, as recommended by the Sourav Ganguly-chaired ICC cricket committee, the running out of the non-striker has been moved from the 'unfair play' section to lend it more legitimacy. "The playing conditions follow the laws in moving this method of effecting a run out from the 'unfair play' section to the 'run out' section," the ICC said. The likes of former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar have long protested against the mode of dismissal being named after a prominent Indian cricketer. It was, however, Ravichandran Ashwin's more recent run out of non-striker Jos Buttler, in the 2019 IPL, which created a huge stir and may have prompted the recent change.

Technically, this mode of run-out was always there. But it was rarely employed because a culture was created against it. The runner trying to get an unfair head start was projected as the victim and the bowler pilloried. In the past, Vinoo Mankad and R Ashwin received the rough end of the stick for doing what was entirely legal. ICC's decision, a rare bowler-friendly move, takes the stigma out of those attempting a run-out