Sanjay Manjrekar condemns new law of penalising 'Fake Fielding'

Former Indian International and renowned cricket analyst/commentator, Sanjay Manjrekar, recently became vocal about one of the new reforms imposed in the game of cricket regarding ‘Fake fielding’. According to this new law, the fielding team might be penalised if the fielder deceives the batting team with their moves on the field.

The likes of MS Dhoni and Kumar Sangakkara are the masters of trolling batsmen with their skills behind the wickets. There have been a number of occasions when the batsman hurried onto the crease while taking a run after witnessing the wicket-keepers anticipating for the ball, creating panic, while the ball is well short of the wickets.

Manjrekar urged International Cricket Council to look at the newly formed law claiming that such skills should be encouraged and not penalised. He further stated that such acts cannot be placed within the same bracket as “Cheating” but trickery. Sanjay Manjrekar also affirmed that he officially has written to the cricketing body to look at the new rules imposed as MCC.

Here’s the Tweet:

Five penalty runs for ‘fake fielding’ is the most ridiculous law that’s been brought in, in recent times. Urge ICC to reconsider it.

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) October 4, 2017

Cheating??? No it’s called tricking. Like Dhoni pretending to collect a throw & lets it go to hit the stumps. Applaud it, not penalise. https://t.co/wJNaRDqR6P

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) October 4, 2017

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.

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) October 4, 2017

Manjrekar’s rant on Twitter sparked some interesting replies as few of them compared the so-called ‘Fake Fielding’ with that of faints from Lionel Messi. One of the fans raised up an important issue of batsman refusing singles to expose the tailenders, which may fall within the bracket of cheating.

Fake fielding is not a cheat,if its treated as a cheat in sports then messi will loose half of his magic,because he is full of body faints.

— C.V.M (@Moviegeek3090) October 4, 2017

Refusing the single so as not to expose the tailenders is also debatable then ?

— pravin (@pravinrao6750) October 4, 2017

Here’s an illustration of what fake fielding is actually:

On the basis of ICC’s attempt to even out the balance between the bat and the ball, this law certainly is made in favour of the batsman. Penalising a fielding team by 5 runs due to the so-called “Fake Fielding” seems harsh on the fielding team. On one hand, the cricketing body is reducing the sizes of the bat to promote even contest between the bat and the ball and on the other hand, ICC has imposed such debatable laws in favour of the batting team.