The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : It was not unsportive, says Rahul Dravid

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 10, 2006

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Sport - Cricket

It was not unsportive, says Rahul Dravid

Special Correspondent

Indian skipper reacts sharply to Inzamam's criticism

— Photo: S. Subramanium

BATTING STRAIGHT: Rahul Dravid minced no words while responding to Inzamam's remark over the `obstructing the field' dismissal.

Rawalpindi: Indian captain Rahul Dravid has reacted strongly to his Pakistan counterpart Inzamam-ul-Haq's comments in his column in the The News on his `obstructing the field' dismissal at Peshawar.

Inzamam had said, "Honestly, in my personal opinion, the appeal was not made in a sporting manner. Instead, it just might have left a bad taste in my mouth."

The Pakistan captain, at least two yards outside the crease, showed a defensive bat to Suresh Raina's throw from mid-off and soon the Indian appeal was upheld.

In his post-match briefing, Dravid had said, "We were trying to run him out. He was well out of the crease and he blocked a throw. It is for the umpires to decide."

The Indian captain responded to Inzamam's words after his team's practice session at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday. He said, "In my opinion and the opinion of the umpires and the match referee, both of whom I spoke to, the Indian team did not act in any manner that was unsportsmanlike or against the spirit of the game. If that had been the case, the umpires and the match referee would have taken action against us.

"We had the option of taking up the issue (Inzamam's comments on his dismissal) before the relevant authorities, but in keeping with the relevance, the importance and the context of the series, we have decided to let the issue pass and lay the matter to rest."

Coach Greg Chappell and paceman S. Sreesanth, who were not present at the practice session, were down with sore throat and fever, Dravid said.

He then turned his attention to off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, still nursing an injury to the index finger of his bowling arm. Dravid said: "We cannot fix a time frame for his recovery. He is staying with the team. His fitness is being closely monitored. He is an important member of the attack and there is a lot of cricket ahead this season."

Powar in good spirits

Off-spinning all-rounder Ramesh Powar, who has joined the squad as a cover for Harbhajan, appeared in good spirits.

On the surface for the second ODI, Dravid said, "It is very difficult to judge. The pitch has been watered and rolled. I don't expect it to be much different from the one for the last game."

Talking about the experimentation process, he said, "I never said we would stop experimenting. It is easier to experiment in batting than bowling. We also experimented in bowling when Sreesanth opened the attack. It is, actually, not experimenting. We call it strategy."

Dravid conceded that the Indian bowlers have found the going hard. "The pitches here have been good for batting. It is a good opportunity for them to learn and develop."

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