New Delhi. These players are considered very talented in the cricket world but they also have a deep connection with controversies. Controversies have not only tarnished the image of players like Shakib Al Hasan, Umar Akmal and Sreesanth, many times they have also had to face action from their country’s cricket board or ICC. Many times his place in the team has also been in danger.
Among these players who have been involved in controversies, some have argued with the umpires on the field and some have got into trouble with policemen for rash driving outside the field. Some players have committed serious indiscipline. Let’s take a look at these cricketers and the major controversies related to them.
Shakib Al Hasan: Like to be in controversies
Shakib Al Hasan is the best all-rounder in all three formats of cricket. 4454 runs and 233 wickets in Test cricket, 7570 runs and 317 wickets in ODI and 2382 runs and 140 wickets in T20I are proof of his being a big player. Despite this, Shakib does not get the respect he deserves among the fans. ‘Short tempered’ Shakib gets angry quickly and sometimes fights with fellow players and sometimes with the umpire or fans.
This year, after winning the Bangladesh elections on Awami League ticket, his video of slapping a fan went viral on social media. His appeal of ‘time out’ against Angelo Mathews in the match against Sri Lanka in the World Cup 2023 was considered against the spirit of the game. Before the World Cup, Shakib’s dispute with fellow cricketer Tamim Iqbal was also in the news. In 2014, when the commentators were criticizing Shakib for his cheap dismissal in the ODI against Sri Lanka, he also got embroiled in controversies by making obscene gestures while the camera was focused on the pavilion. Shakib was banned for three matches and fined for this indecent gesture.
Two brothers, one played for Australia and the other for England, there was a lot of controversy!
Other controversies related to Shakib..
– In a Dhaka Premier League match in 2021, after the umpire rejected the LBW appeal, Shakib uprooted the stumps by kicking and misbehaved with the umpire. Its video had gone viral. He had to face suspension and fine.
– In the year 2010, during Shakib’s batting in the match against New Zealand, there was some ‘commotion’ around the side screen. When this happened again and again, Shakib himself ran near the sightscreen and allegedly abused the person standing there.
Shakib was accused of being approached by bookies for spot-fixing, but he did not inform the ICC, the apex body of cricket, about it. For this reason he was banned for two years. Later in 2021, this Bangladeshi cricketer made a comeback in international cricket.
-In 2014, Bangladesh Cricket Board had also suspended Shakib for leaving the training camp without giving information. Apart from this, Shakib’s name has been in controversies from time to time.
International cricketers who later became umpires, one has been the captain of India.
Umar Akmal: Doesn’t work only with fellow players
The cricket career of Pakistan’s best batsman Umar Akmal was affected due to controversies. Umar, who made his international debut in 2009, could play only 16 Tests, 121 ODIs and 84 T20Is due to indiscipline and controversies. Umar, one of the famous Akmal brothers of Pakistan, is embroiled in controversies due to his angry nature. Many times he has criticized his fellow players.
– PCB had banned Umar Akmal for three years in 2020 for not giving information about spot-fixing offers made by bookies before the Pakistan Super League. However, later the ban period was reduced to one and a half years.
– In 2014, an FIR was registered against Umar Akmal on charges of rash driving, misbehaving with policemen and obstructing government work.
– Umar Akmal had alleged in 2017 that Pakistan’s then coach Mickey Arthur abused and misbehaved with him. On the other hand, Arthur denied these allegations and accused Omar of misbehaving with him. PCB had banned Umar for three matches and fined him in this case.
-Umar Akmal married the daughter of Pakistan leg spinner Abdul Qadir in 2014. The government of Pakistan’s Punjab province had alleged that during the ceremony, the Marriage Ceremony Act was violated and media persons were misbehaved.
These uncapped players will win hearts in IPL! They create ‘devastation’ with fours and sixes.
Sreesanth: Infamous for excessive ‘aggression’
Former fast bowler S. Sreesanth has been a member of the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 World Cup champion Indian team. He has been infamous for showing excessive aggression in the cricket field. He has had disputes with the players of the opposing team and also with the Indian players.
– Sreesanth was arrested for his involvement in spot-fixing during IPL 2013. He was a part of Rajasthan Royals at that time. After this BCCI had banned him.
– During a match of Legends League Cricket (LLC) in 2023, there was a heated argument between Sreesanth and his teammate in Team India, Gautam Gambhir. Umpires had to intervene in the matter. Sreesanth had alleged that Gambhir called him a fixer.
– The dispute between Harbhajan and Sreesanth made headlines during IPL 2008. After the match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab, Harbhajan got angry with Sreesanth and slapped him.
– Kerala Police had registered a case against Sreesanth and two others last year on charges of fraud and cheating. Complainant Sarish Gopalan alleged that two persons named Rajiv Kumar and Venkatesh Kini took a total of Rs 18.70 lakh from him on different dates from April 25, 2019. He had claimed that he would build a sports academy in Kollur, Karnataka but till now the academy has not been built nor has the money been returned. Sreesanth is mentioned as the third accused in the case. According to the complainant, Sreesanth also has a stake in Rajeev and Venkatesh’s company. However, Sreesanth has said that he is not involved in any such financial transactions or any other activity.
Clarke was sledging Sachin, Sehwag stopped speaking by giving a befitting reply
Mushfiqur Rahim: Was bent on killing fellow player
The video of Bangladesh wicketkeeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim trying to punch his teammate during the domestic T20 tournament in 2020 went viral. Actually, wicketkeeper Rahim and fielder Nasum Ahmed were saved from colliding badly while taking a catch. After taking the catch, Rahim tried to slap Nasum.
– Rahim became the target of criticism by tweeting (now X) expressing happiness over India’s defeat against West Indies in the semi-finals of the 2016 T20 World Cup. Actually, India had defeated Bangladesh in the tournament. After India’s defeat at the hands of Indies in the semi-finals, Rahim had written – Felt very happy…! Ha ha ha… India lost the semi-finals. After criticism in this matter, Rahim had apologized.
– During the second ODI between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in 2021, the video of wicketkeeper Rahim asking his bowler Mehdi Hasan Miraj to hit the Sri Lankan batsman when he came in front of him had gone viral.
Ambati Rayudu: Ran to kill the old man
Ambati Rayudu has played 55 ODIs and 6 T20Is for India. This Andhra player, who scored 1694 runs (three centuries) in ODIs at an average of 47.05, was considered to have an angry nature. The video of Rayudu arguing with an elderly man and running to hit him in a rash driving incident had gone viral.
– During IPL 2016, the on-field debate between Harbhajan Singh and Rayudu, who played for Mumbai Indians, was also in the news. Rayudu has also had a fight with Arjun Yadav, who plays for Hyderabad. Arjun moved towards each other with the stump and Rayudu carrying the bat but the umpires intervened. When all-rounder Vijayshankar was selected in the Indian team for the 2019 World Cup, ignoring Rayudu, this Andhra batsman had taunted the then Chief Selector MSK Prasad by posting on social media.
Apart from these five players, Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar, Shahid Afridi and Mohd. Asif, India’s Harbhajan Singh and Gautam Gambhir, Australia’s David Warner, Afghanistan’s Naveen Ul Haq and West Indies’ Marlon Samuels have also been associated with controversies.
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Tags: Ambati Rayudu, Mushfiqur Rahim, S Sreesanth, shahid afridi, Shakib Al Hasan, Shoaib Akhtar, Omar Akmal
FIRST PUBLISHED: March 15, 2024, 07:20 IST