MS Dhoni's tactics questionable with the ICC's fake fielding law coming into play

The former Indian skipper MS Dhoni is one of the most street smart cricketers in the modern era. Many a times Dhoni has out-witted the opponent with his clever play. But we might see Dhoni on the receiving end as the ICC’s latest amendments comes into play. The wicket-keeper has been seen pretending to collect a throw and at times letting it hit the stumps. But all these little edges in the game is likely to get shaved off with the new rules coming into existence.

The latest Law 41.5 states that: “it is unfair for any fielder willfully to attempt, by word or action, to distract, deceive or obstruct either batsman after the striker has received the ball”. If the umpires on the field determine that such deception is deliberate, they may give 5 penalty runs to the batting team.

Sources says,”While deception is an integral part of the game and cricketers around the world strive to develop ways to outsmart their counterparts, the law is bound to give a hard time to on-field umpires to interpret what is “deliberate” and what is “deception”.

Manjrekar’s Twitter rant

On 4th October, commentator and former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar came down hard on the ICC for nature of the new rule.

On social media, Manjrekar criticized the ICC. “Five penalty runs for ‘fake fielding’ is the most ridiculous law that’s been brought in, in recent times. Urge ICC to reconsider it,” he wrote.

He added in his next tweet “How about penalising batting side 5 runs when b’man fakes a step out & does not? Does he not put the bowler off? Fake fielding law must go.”

Manjrekar, however, ended it on a sober note by confessing that he has already written to the ICC, before he took to Twitter to express his views. “Along with my little rant on twitter, have also written to the ICC to reconsider penalising fake fielding. It opens up a Pandora’s box.”