'What a joke' - Cricketing world lashes out at ICC for banning Kagiso Rabada

Over the last few years, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has got a lot stricter when it comes to players reacting to dismissals or expressing themselves too much on the field. Be it, batsmen or bowlers, they have been kept under check. It is no secret that bowlers love celebrating wickets and there are a few who love expressing themselves a lot. But those in your face nature celebrations have also been curbed with the ICC sanctions.

And Kagiso Rabada is no stranger to this. He’s been in the thick of things on multiple occasions for his celebrations. Back in 2018, there were a couple of instances where he was in the news for his celebration which was deemed inappropriate according to ICC’s code of conduct. The first one was when he gave Shikhar Dhawan a send-off in February 2018 in an ODI against India.

A month later, he was in the news again for colliding with Steve Smith after dismissing the then Australian skipper. He was subsequently banned but an appeal saw his ban revoked and his demerit points go back to three. But he once again was in the news for his celebrations after he dismissed England Test captain Joe Root on the first day of the third Test at the St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth.

Kagiso Rabada banned for celebrating Root’s wicket overaggressively

The ace South African pacer castled Root with a beauty and was ecstatic. He let out a roar right in front of the batsman and that celebration was deemed as overaggressive. The on-field umpires deemed that inappropriate on the grounds of “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his or her dismissal during an international match” as per the ICC code of conduct. Moreover, the match referee fined Rabada 15% of his match fee and also added a demerit point against his name.

That took Rabada to four demerit points which convert to a ban of one Test or two ODIs or four T20Is whichever comes first. Hence, the 24-year-old fast bowler will miss the fourth Test in Johannesburg.

However, former cricketers weren’t happy with the call. They felt it was harsh as Rabada was letting out his emotion and it’s completely normal for anyone to let out his emotions and show some aggression if it’s within the laws. The fast bowler did not utter anything to Root either.

Context .. 33 degree heat.. high humidity.. flat pitch … not given new ball .. gets England captain .. best ball of the day … shows a bit too much emotion. Result Wanderers test will be poorer for no Rabada .. ps I know he has previous !

— Nasser Hussain (@nassercricket) January 17, 2020

Rabada getting a 1 game ban for celebrating taking the Wicket of the opponents best player is absolutely bonkers … Over rates & slow play nothing gets done … Celebrate a wicked and you are banned … The World is bloody nuts … #SAvENG

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 17, 2020

Ban him. We hate the best players in the world playing anyway 🤥

— Mitchell McClenaghan (@Mitch_Savage) January 17, 2020

Honestly. What a joke. And the ‘it’s only a demerit point’ nonsense is not an excuse for this to be ok.

— Trent Copeland (@copes9) January 17, 2020

The demerit system works over 24 months. You’re banned if you get 4 in that period.

Rabada’s first one was over 23 months ago, and the next 2, 22 months ago. Clean living for 22 months, 2 months before a clean reset and then banned for a celebration.

It really defies logic.

— Dean Oelschig (@DeanOelsch) January 17, 2020

One match ban on Rabada for celebrating after a wicket!?#Rabada pic.twitter.com/7aIz0vguzJ

— Mohit Singhvi (@mohitsinghvi_) January 17, 2020

Dear cricketers of the world…the ICC doesn't want you showing emotion. You lock those emotions away – don't smile, don't celebrate, dammit don't raise your bat. Stand there stoically. If you need help, there'll be a session on this after nets on Wednesday.

— stuart hess (@shockerhess) January 17, 2020

We are trying to get the next generation to keep test cricket alive and the @ICC are doing their best to drive them away. To ban a fast bowler after celebrating getting a top batter out on a flat wicket in 30 degree heat is beyond belief!!!

— Michael Carberry (@carbs646) January 17, 2020

So question @ICC if one of the batters scores a century and runs down the wicket fist pumping and leaping up and down is that case for demerit points???? 😐

— Michael Carberry (@carbs646) January 17, 2020

I understand that cricket needs to be played in the spirit of the game but to ban @KagisoRabada25 for a test match for over celebrating to me is ridiculous. I also know that he has pushed the boundaries before but come on! No swearing involved! Love his passion. Don’t agree @ICC

— Brett Lee (@BrettLee_58) January 17, 2020

Lmao this is world class…. I feel so betrayed by @KagisoRabada25 😂😂😂

(Side Note: Totally disagree with the decision to ban the best bowler in the world for showing some passion 🙄) https://t.co/LJGPwjWd5J

— Tabraiz Shamsi (@shamsi90) January 17, 2020