10 Controversies that hogged the spotlight in 2015

The year gone by 2015 was one of the finest years for the level and standard of cricket played during the 12 months. Teams with big reputation failed to live up to it while the smaller names emerged to add glory to the game. But we also saw some controversies, a few banters, hot-headed-heated exchanges and quite a few bans and suspensions. Here are the controversial that hogged the spotlight in 2015. 1. That was not a no ball! Rohit Sharma. (Photo Source: AFP) Moments after Rohit was caught off a Rubel Hossain full-toss in the 40th over umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Gould signaled no-ball but replay suggested that the ball was only waist-high when contact was made and on its way down. Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza spoke to Dar briefly and later, in the post-match press conference, steered away from direct criticism of the umpires. The matter got worst after cricket lovers in Bangladesh started protesting in an unprecedented manner. In the Dhaka University area, an effigy was burnt with protesters chanting the names of the two on-field umpires of the World Cup quarter-final. There were processions in some parts of Dhaka and other parts of the country too. 2. Mustafa Kamal stepped down from ICC president’s post after World Cup snub: Bangladesh’s Mustafa Kamal resigns from the ICC President post. (© Getty Images) An angry Mustafa Kamal resigned as president of the International Cricket Council (ICC) with an outspoken attack on the world governing body after he was prevented from presenting the World Cup trophy. The Bangladeshi national had said after his country’s World Cup quarter-final defeat against India that there was “no quality in the umpiring” and suggested the result had been “pre-arranged”. Clearly, his words didn’t go down too well with ICC chairperson N. Srinivasan, and instead of the traditional ritual of President presenting the cup, it was Srinivasan himself who took the dais. 3. DRS cries foul: (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images) Nathan Lyon’s attempt at sweeping Mitchell Santner ended with Kane Williamson catching the ball at gully, and New Zealand appealed immediately. Umpire S Ravi ruled it not out, but Brendon McCullum reviewed the decision because New Zealand thought the ball had hit the top edge, lobbed off Lyon’s shoulder and been caught. Drama ensued. Hot Spot showed a faint mark on the edge of Lyon’s bat and there appeared to be some deviation, but the third umpire Nigel Llong ruled that there wasn’t enough conclusive evidence to overturn the decision because of unfavourable camera angles and real-time snicko-meter indicating no edge. 4. Rubel Hossain turns into World cup hero from rape accused: Rubel Hossain. (© Getty Images) Bangladesh medium fast bowler Rubel Hossain, who was named in the nation’s World Cup squad, was reportedly behind bars after he was remanded in custody over alleged charges of raping an actress. A magistrate in the capital Dhaka delivered the order after actress Naznin Akter Happy lodged a complaint of ‘rape’ and a ‘false promise of marriage’ against the cricketer last December. Later, in a turn of events, Happy said she had decided to forgive her former boyfriend who starred in a dramatic victory over England in the World Cup. “I’ve forgiven him. I am not going to continue the case against him, I am not going to give any testimony or evidence against him. And if I don’t carry on with the case, then there is no case.” she said. 5. Amit Mishra arrested, released: Amit Mishra. (© STR/AFP/Getty Images) Indian leg-spinner Amit Mishra found himself in the centre of discussions and news for a non-cricketing reason. The cricketer had done really well in the limited overs series against the touring South Africa side and was certain to feature in India’s Test squad. But a couple of days before that a girl accused him of assault and lodged an FIR against Mishra in Bengaluru. He was summoned by the police for interrogation and arrested him only to be immediately released on bail. “Mishra was arrested and will be released later (on bail),” DCP (Central) Sandeep Patil had told PTI. Later the girl decided to pull back the case and was reported in the media saying, “I am waiting for Mishra to appear in the police station. We both will amicably withdraw the case. We were friends. We fought, and continue to remain friends here after,” she said. 6. Shakib Al Hasan abuses umpire during a BPL game: Shakib Al Hasan. (Photo Source: TheDailyStar Twitter Handle) Shakib Al Hasan was handed a one-match ban over a double foul-mouthed outburst during the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Twenty20 competition. Shakib, who has a history of disciplinary problems, was found guilty of uttering abusive language after dismissing Sylhet Super Stars batsman Dilshan Munaweera while playing for his Rangpur Riders team. He was also convicted of directing offensive and abusive language towards umpire Tanvir Ahmed in the 13th over of Sylhet’s innings when an appeal against rival batsman Mushfiqur Rahim was turned down. Shakib had received a three-match ban in 2014 after making a lewd gesture towards a cameraman during an ODI match against Sri Lanka. 7. Cricketers banned for illegal bowling action: Saeed Ajmal. (Photo Source: AFP) West Indies off-spinner Sunil Narine was suspended from international cricket after his action was found ‘illegal’ by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Narine’s action was reported in November during the third ODI against Sri Lanka in Pallekele. Sri Lanka off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal also faced the heat, after he was reported with a suspected illegal bowling action during the third Test against India this year. Pakistan faced a huge blow after offspinner Saeed Ajmal was banned from bowling in international cricket by the ICC after his action was deemed to be illegal for all deliveries. Ajmal, who has been Pakistan’s lead spinner in all formats in recent years, was reported after the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle this year. Kane Williamson, the part-time New Zealand offspinner, has been suspended from bowling in international cricket after his action was found to be illegal. Williamson was reported for a suspect action following the second Test against West Indies in Trinidad in June and was sent for biomechanical testing at Cardiff Metropolitan University. That testing has shown that Williamson’s elbow extension when bowling exceeds the 15 degrees allowable under the ICC rules. Apart from the above-mentioned names, Shikhar Dhawan (India) and Mohammad Hafeez (Pakistan) were also banned from bowling, following illegal bowling action. 8. Ishant Sharma and Dammika Prasad gets into a tussle: Ishant Sharma. (© AFP/Getty Images) The Sri Lanka-India Test series witnessed its first major boiling-point on its penultimate day following a spat between Ishant Sharma and Dhammika Prasad towards the end of India’s second innings at the SSC. The umpires spoke to both captains following the incident, but the bad blood didn’t end there; it spilled over into Ishant’s celebrations at the fall of Sri Lanka’s third wicket, the bowler tabbed his own head repeatedly. The drama began when Ishant, the last man in, ducked under a Prasad bouncer in the 76th over of India’s innings and grinned back at the bowler. Prasad wasn’t very happy at his gesture, as he glared back at Ishant. Things got more heated when Ishant pushed the next ball for a single and smacked his helmet repeatedly while running down the pitch and past Prasad as if goading him to bowl more bouncers. Dinesh Chandimal walked over from slip, his shoulder-grazing Ishant’s. Non-striker R Ashwin then joined the discussion before the umpires stepped in. Both Ishant and Chandimal faced a one-match ban while Prasad was slapped with 50% fine. 9. The Mohammad Amir acceptance saga: Mohammad Amir. (Photo Source: BCB) Mohammad Hafeez had turned down an offer from Chittagong Vikings to feature in the BPL as the franchise had already signed Mohammad Amir. The former captain said he could not share a dressing room with a player who has tarnished the image of the nation. “It is not about individuals or any personality clash. It is about the image of Pakistan cricket. I cannot play with any player who has tarnished and brought a bad name to the country,” Hafeez had told the media. Things took another turn when Hafeez and ODI captain Azhar Ali refused to join the camp because of Amir’s presence. But later, everything was sorted as Amir joined the conditioning camp. He said he was sorry for what had happened and again apologised to everyone at the meeting. The atmosphere was emotional, as Hafeez accepted his apology on behalf of the team. Amir has now been picked in Pakistan squad that will tour New Zealand. 10. Yasir Shah and Kusal Perera suspended for doping: (© LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP/Getty Images) Pakistani spinner Yasir Shah was suspended for failing a dope test by the International Cricket Council (ICC). “Shah has been charged with an antidoping rule violation on a sample he provided in an in-competition test,” an ICC statement announced. “The test, conducted on 13 November 2015, was found to contain the presence of chlortalidone, a Prohibited Substance which appears in Section 5 of the World Anti-Doping Agency list (in the category of Specified Substances).” It came as a big blow to Pakistan, as Shah was their trump card, being the most successful spinner in the recent time. Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Perera also went down the radar. He currently faces a four-year ban after the country’s sports minister said the 25-year-old’s ‘B’ sample has also tested positive for a prohibited substance. The International Cricket Council (ICC) provisionally suspended Perera after he failed an out-of-competition anti-doping test in October. (Also read: International cricket in 2015 in numbers)

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10 Controversies that hogged the spotlight in 2015

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