Kaif leads team out of field after umpires turn down referral appeal

It was a disappointing episode for the sparse cricket fans present at the ground to witness their heroes, including Kaif, in action.

It was unbecoming of a player of Mohammad Kaif's stature, rich in experience of playing international cricket, and donning the colours of three state teams, in a career spanning 17 years.

In an unsavoury incident, Chhattisgarh captain Mohammad Kaif led his team out of the field after the umpires had turned down an appeal for a catch in the Vijay Hazare Trophy Group ‘D’ match against Karnataka at the Jadavpur University ground here on Monday.

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It was unbecoming of a player of Kaif's stature, rich in experience of playing international cricket, and donning the colours of three state teams, in a career spanning 17 years.

At a hearing conducted after the match, match referee Nitin Goel held Kaif responsible for the ugly incident. Goel served the Chhattisgarh skipper a warning and ordered deduction of his match fees.

Chasing 200 to win, Karnataka was three for no loss when Mayank Agarwal, on one, edged one behind off Omkar Verma. The Chhattisgarh team appealed vociferously for a catch.

Match referee Nitin Goel managed to pacify Mohammad Kaif within minutes following which the Chhattisgarh team resumed playing.

 

Umpire Virender Sharma consulted his on-field colleague at square leg Umesh Dubey before giving his decision in favour of the batsman.

Instinctively, Kaif urged the umpires to seek a television referral. However, the umpires preferred to stick to their decision.

Shockingly, Kaif ordered his team-mates to leave the field in protest of the decision. Almost the whole team left the field forcing Goel to intervene.

Goel, who understandably had access to the video footage of the action in the middle, managed to pacify Kaif within minutes following which the Chhattisgarh team resumed playing.

The incident, which held up play for eight minutes, was not an ideal example for the younger cricketers of Chhattisgarh, playing domestic cricket in their debut season.

Besides, it was a disappointing episode for the sparse cricket fans present at the ground to witness their heroes, including Kaif, in action.

Ironically, the 36-year-old Kaif on Sunday had sympathised with the Pakistan cricket fans in his tweet about the Pakistan Super League final.

“Must be a very happy feeling for Pakistan cricket fans. Fans are the ones who miss out the most. May peace prevail,” Kaif had tweeted.

The fans here certainly deserved better.