New Delhi:
After the Sri Lankan Cricket Board punished Suraj Randiv and Tillakaratne Dilshan for the Virender Sehwag no-ball controversy, Gavaskar praised the swift action.
"I think it's an exemplary step and as you said that they didn't have to do anything as it was part of the rules, but it was against the spirit of the game had been breached by that act. And therefore they took action against Randiv and also against Tillakaratne Dilshan who was clearly saying that look to bowl a no-ball. So I think the Sri Lankan Board should be complimented on taking swift action," Gavaskar said.
The Sri Lanka Cricket Board on Wednesday handed spinner Suraj Randiv, who had denied Virender Sehwag a century with a deliberate no-ball, a one-match ban, and also fined him 100 per cent of his match fee. (Read: Fear of defeat led to no-ball: Sehwag)
The ban means Randiv will miss Thursday's match against New Zealand in Dambulla.
Senior Lankan batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan, who apparently asked the bowler to bowl a no-ball, was fined 100 percent of his match fee. (Read: Dilshan suggested Randiv to bowl no ball: Report)
"As such Sri Lanka Cricket has taken a stern decision against Suraj Randiv and TM Dilshan, for their actions during the 3rd ODI of the Micromax Tri-Series held on August 16, 2010, wherein Virender Sehwag was deprived of scoring his century due to the delivery of a no-ball by Suraj Randiv," the press release by the Lankan Board said.
The Board also advised captain Kumar Sangakkara to ensure that such incidents do not occur again as they bring disrepute to cricket, affecting the spirit of the game.(Watch: Sangakkara takes the blame)
The decision to take disciplinary action against the players was taken by the six-member committee which met on Wednesday afternoon to take action on the recommendations of team manager who probed the 'no-ball' controversy.
"Sri Lanka Cricket is extremely proud of its team and their achievements over the years. It is of paramount importance to maintain the discipline of the Gentlemen's game, especially with Sri Lanka Cricket being winners of the 'ICC Spirit of the Game' award for two consecutive years," the statement said.
In the ODI on Monday, Sehwag was batting at 99 with India needing just one run for victory in the third ODI of the tri-series against Sri Lanka. He struck Suraj Randiv for a huge six over long-off and raised his bat in celebration, only to realise a moment later that it was a big no-ball from the off-spinner and his runs would not be counted. The no-ball was the winning run.
The Indian team and cricket fans across the world were livid. Former cricketers slammed Randiv and the Sri Lankan team.
The young off-spinner, however, apologised to Sehwag after the match. The Sri Lankan board too offered their apologies, which prompted the Indian team management to declare the episode a "closed chapter" while the BCCI also made it clear that it would not pursue the case any further.
"I think it's an exemplary step and as you said that they didn't have to do anything as it was part of the rules, but it was against the spirit of the game had been breached by that act. And therefore they took action against Randiv and also against Tillakaratne Dilshan who was clearly saying that look to bowl a no-ball. So I think the Sri Lankan Board should be complimented on taking swift action," Gavaskar said.
The Sri Lanka Cricket Board on Wednesday handed spinner Suraj Randiv, who had denied Virender Sehwag a century with a deliberate no-ball, a one-match ban, and also fined him 100 per cent of his match fee. (Read: Fear of defeat led to no-ball: Sehwag)
The ban means Randiv will miss Thursday's match against New Zealand in Dambulla.
Senior Lankan batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan, who apparently asked the bowler to bowl a no-ball, was fined 100 percent of his match fee. (Read: Dilshan suggested Randiv to bowl no ball: Report)
"As such Sri Lanka Cricket has taken a stern decision against Suraj Randiv and TM Dilshan, for their actions during the 3rd ODI of the Micromax Tri-Series held on August 16, 2010, wherein Virender Sehwag was deprived of scoring his century due to the delivery of a no-ball by Suraj Randiv," the press release by the Lankan Board said.
The Board also advised captain Kumar Sangakkara to ensure that such incidents do not occur again as they bring disrepute to cricket, affecting the spirit of the game.(Watch: Sangakkara takes the blame)
The decision to take disciplinary action against the players was taken by the six-member committee which met on Wednesday afternoon to take action on the recommendations of team manager who probed the 'no-ball' controversy.
"Sri Lanka Cricket is extremely proud of its team and their achievements over the years. It is of paramount importance to maintain the discipline of the Gentlemen's game, especially with Sri Lanka Cricket being winners of the 'ICC Spirit of the Game' award for two consecutive years," the statement said.
In the ODI on Monday, Sehwag was batting at 99 with India needing just one run for victory in the third ODI of the tri-series against Sri Lanka. He struck Suraj Randiv for a huge six over long-off and raised his bat in celebration, only to realise a moment later that it was a big no-ball from the off-spinner and his runs would not be counted. The no-ball was the winning run.
The Indian team and cricket fans across the world were livid. Former cricketers slammed Randiv and the Sri Lankan team.
The young off-spinner, however, apologised to Sehwag after the match. The Sri Lankan board too offered their apologies, which prompted the Indian team management to declare the episode a "closed chapter" while the BCCI also made it clear that it would not pursue the case any further.
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