Cricketers stand with divided opinions on Jiveshan Pillay controversial dismissal

The ongoing edition of the ICC U19 World Cup has not been short of any action. While the big moments and brave performances are bagging the limelight, a recent incident has got some of the senior players fuming. Jiveshan Pillay, a South Africa U19 batsman, was given out ‘obstructing the field’ in the match against the West Indies U19.

Interestingly, the video footages showed that Jiveshan Pillay had no intentions of stopping the ball when in play. He simply gave the ball back to the fielders, when he thought the ball was dead. But the Windies camp was in no mood to let the opportunity go. They appealed against Pillay and the batsman was adjudged out on 47.

Speaking on the issue, former cricketer Ian Bishop termed it to be an unfortunate one He remarked that the batsman was clearly not trying to take an advantage. Hence, the law needs to be modified in order to give clearer verdicts in such cases, Bishop opined.

“This is an unfortunate issue. The batsman isn’t trying to gain an advantage. He is not trying to being unfair. The umpires have done what they need to do. The ball has stopped. It’s not threatening the stumps. I don’t really necessarily feel as if that’s a good law. It could take a re-look,” said Ian Bishop to Fox Sports.

“The batsman is not trying to gain an unfair advantage. All he is trying to do is help out the fielding team. I would have to have a deeper look at myself if I was the fielding captain. Can I use some discretion here for the sake of the game and whatever the spirit of the game means? I wouldn’t have gone that way. He’s obviously a bright kid and he understands the letter of the law. On this occasion it’s slightly different for me compared to the last World Cup,” he added further.

South African cricketers stand for Jiveshan Pillay

South African skipper Faf du Plessis and former cricketer Herschelle Gibbs were quick to join in the debate on the social media. They stood firmly by the corner of Jiveshan Pillay. They called it as an absolute joke to be ruling the batsman out in this case.

This is a absolute joke…not in the spirit of the game .I have done this almost a 100 times. https://t.co/nX0KUJ9PI4

— Faf Du Plessis (@faf1307) January 17, 2018

Shocking decision and clearly not out! Fielders didn’t appeal and even if they did it’s still not out!! Poor umpiring at its very best!

— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) January 17, 2018

Bullshit! Weve done that plenty times and stock standard to give the ball back to the opposition

— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) January 17, 2018

Some bat against Pillay

Meanwhile, former Australian cricketer, Mitchell Johnson, is of the opinion that the players should follow the rules. He responded back with negation on the tweet that Faf du Plessis had posted. He mentioned that not all laws can be liked, but they have to be followed.

Maybe you should stop doing it. Whether we like or not, it’s law in the game. As for spirit of the game, the players didn’t do anything wrong right? #healthydebate

— Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) January 17, 2018

I don’t think you can compare the two but why are people getting their knickers in a knot when the law is the law or rule? Like I’ve said there are a few laws in the game I don’t like (underarm would have been one) but in the end you play on!

— Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) January 17, 2018

There are a few laws I don’t like in the game but you have to accept and get on with it, simple as that. ??

— Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) January 17, 2018

Catch more developments on this and top leading cricket news on CricTracker.