Sourav Ganguly, Chetan Chauhan call for action against Steve Smith

In a very unusual turn of events, the Australian skipper Steve Smith has found himself in a controversy over his DRS referrals. Former cricketers like Sourav Ganguly have voiced their opinions and have been direct in demanding a ban for Smith in the matches to follow – even if it is for a solitary game. Prior to this, team India skipper had also slammed his Aussie counterpart for violating the rules while going for the referrals. The incident relates back to the Australian second innings when Steve Smith was batting with Peter Handscomb.

Apparently, both players were seen looking at the Australian dressing room after an umpiring decision had gone against them. The dressing room has video footages and hence the DRS rules state that the players cannot take the assistance of any member from the dressing room while going for a referral. Umpire Nigel Llong had then intervened after skipper Virat Kohli had ran into Smith to tell him that he was doing wrong. In the press conference, Kohli noted that it was not the only time when he had seen Smith doing so.

“I saw that happening two times when I was batting out there. I pointed that out to the umpire as well that I had seen their players looking upstairs for confirmation. And that’s why the umpire was at him (Smith). When he turned back, the umpire knew what was going on exactly. We observed that, we told the match referee and the umpire that it’s been happening for the last three days and it has to stop,” Kohli had quoted.

Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly has backed the words of Kohli and has gone an inch further in demanding a ban for the Aussie skipper. In a conversation with Aaj Tak, Ganguly said that an action needs to be taken for infringing on DRS rules. He further cited the double standards of the Aussie camp. He said that the Aussies find it fine to sledge the opposition but when they are at the receiving end, they get upset.

“Action must be taken according to rules and laws of the game. If it’s a ban it should be a ban because if the umpires themselves saw Smith infringing on DRS rules then they must report and take action. The umpires and Match referee must ensure this doesn’t happen in future,” quoted Sourav Ganguly.

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“When they sledge they think it’s okay but if you sledge back they call it disrespect? I have seen Australian coaches sending their men to sit in the stands and at times instructing or giving signal to their players what to do on field! That’s why we started retaliating. Remember Sydney Test (2008), when we lost the Test due to bad umpiring by Steve Bucknor and how Australian fielders claimed wrong decisions. I was given out off a bump catch in the slips because the fielder claimed it and in those days you had to go with the word of the fielders,” he added further.

Ganguly also had a word of advice for Virat Kohli. Former Australian cricketer Mark Waugh had called Kohli’s recent poor run in the series as a brain fade. He had gone on to quote that the negativity of Kohli is catching up on the Indian side. Ganguly noted that Kohli need not bother about such comments.

“I am with Virat, there is absolutely no need for him to get bogged down by these comments. He must realise the pressure he has built led to Australia wilting and getting bowled out for 112 here. He must stay within the rules of the game but not take anything from the other team,” Ganguly conceded.

Chetan Chauhan, the former Indian cricketer, also voiced the same opinion. He also condemned the actions of Steve Smith. He quoted, “What Smith did was cheating and you don’t expect this in a Test match. I am sure action will be taken against Smith else others will continue doing this time and again.”