Rating top 5 international teams based on controversies

Controversies have been a part and parcel of the game of cricket for many years. There have been teams, which have been exceptional with their performances. However, the same teams have also managed to grab the limelight courtesy some unruly behaviour.

The incidents also have tended to overshadow their numbers on the park. Those teams also stay away from the Spirit of Cricket award. The sides and their players mostly stay under the scanner of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

There are also teams like New Zealand, who has set the benchmarks with their humble approach. However, a number of sides have strained to get hold of their emotions and have been carried away by the same. Be it internal or external, they haven’t been able to set the right examples for others.

In the article, we rate five international teams based on their controversies: –

West Indies- 5

When it comes to controversies, the West Indies aren’t far behind. When India toured the Caribbean Islands, the hosts’ bowlers resorted to bowling bouncers. The bumpers injured a number of players, including Anshuman Gaekwad, Gundappa Vishwanath and Brijesh Patel.

In fact, a total of five Indian cricketers got injured. In the second innings, Bishen Singh Bedi and Co had no batsman in the lineup. Kieron Pollard, the current ODI and T20I skipper, entered into plenty of scuffle due to which the ICC has meted out punishments.

Back in December 2018, Carlos Brathwaite, the then Caribbean T20I captain, had a heated argument with the umpires in a match against Bangladesh. Then the players, having a cold war with the country’s cricket board also resulted in loads of unwanted occurrings.

Australia- 7

Though Australian cricket has toned down in the last couple of years, their cricket has always been marred with controversial developments. In 1981, bowler Trevor Chappell bowls underarm after orders from his captain Greg Chappell. New Zealand needed six runs and the tactic was to disallow the batsman from scoring those runs.

Apart from that, the Aussies have managed to grab headlines. Their cricketers prefer, hurling verbal volleys at the opposition players. The umpires had to intervene as well. A number of times, they have also been accused of not playing by the sportsman spirit.

The biggest of them all came in 2018 in the Cape Town Test against Australia. David Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft were suspended after they were found guilty in the ball-tampering scandal.

Pakistan- 8

Pakistan cricket has always been in the limelight owing to the controversies they have created. In 2000, Saleem Malik became the first player to be banned from all forms of cricket. Having last played in 1999, he tried to return through coaching jobs, but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) closed the doors on him.

In 2005, Shoaib Akhtar was sent back home after poor attitude in an Australia tour. In 2010, Mohammad Amir bowled a front foot no-ball against England at the Lord’s Cricket Ground and was guilty of spot-fixing.

It turned out to be detrimental as he along with Mohammad Asif and then skipper Salman Butt also bore the brunt of suspensions. Though Amir and Butt have returned, Asif could hardly make a comeback. Ball-tampering sagas haven’t eluded Pakistan cricket either.

Bangladesh- 7.5

Bangladesh cricket has had their fair share of controversies as well. Back in the 2018 Nidahas Trophy in Sri Lanka, their players performed the snake-dance and it didn’t go down well with many. In the same tournament, Shakib Al Hasan and his men threatened to walk off the park after a decision from the on-field umpire.

In the same year, some of their supporters hacked Virat Kohli’s official website. It was after Liton Das was given out stumped in the final of the Asia Cup against India. The fans felt that the batsman, who scored his maiden ODI century, was given out unfairly.

In 2019, their cricket was dealt with a body blow after Shakib was handed a suspension by the ICC. The Jessore-born all-rounder failed to report three corrupt approaches after which he was given the slap on the wrist.

Afghanistan- 8.5  

Afghanistan cricket has promised a whole lot, but the last few months have been turbulent for them. First they sacked Asghar Afghan as the skipper from all formats and appointed three different captains. After Gulbadin Naib failed in the 2019 World Cup with the national team, losing all their games, Rashid Khan was given the mantle across formats.

In December, they sprung another surprise. They went back to Afghan as their skipper. In July 2019, the ACB suspended their chief selector and team manager for a year after the team’s poor show in the World Cup.

Even Mohammad Nabi and Rashid slammed the cricket board for changing the team’s captain before the World Cup. From June 1, 2019 until now, Afghanistan are on a stunning 12-match losing streak in the One Day format.