What can happen to Gambhir following his row with Tiwary?
The Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Bengal saw some ugly scenes as renowned Indian opener Gautam Gambhir and Manoj Tiwary had a war of words on-field.
Gambhir, who is captaining the Delhi team, was fielding when Manoj Tiwary walked into bat. Soon, both the players got caught in a heated conversation and when the on-field umpire, K Srinath tried to stop the players, the Delhi skipper pushed him away.
The incident happened in the 8th over of Bengal’s second innings. Tiwary walked into bat after a wicket fell. When the bowler started to take his run-up, Tiwary stopped him and signalled to the pavillion that he needs his helmet.
Gambhir, who was fielding in the slip cordon, thought Tiwary was just trying to waste time. He got frustrated by the act and said, “Shaam ko mil tujhe maroonga (Meet me in the evening, I will hit you).
Tiwary replied: “Shaam kya abhi bahar chal’ (Why wait till evening, let’s go out and settle it now”).
Gambhir raised his fist directed towards Tiwary and the latter didn’t back down. The umpire came in between, but he was pushed away by Gambhir. Manoj then shouted at Gambhir saying, “Did I tell you anything, why did you come in between.”
Both Tiwary and Gambhir will be summoned by the match referee Valmick Buch. The Delhi skipper’s act of pushing umpire Srinath during the course of the heated exchange could land him in trouble.
According to the Marylebone Cricket Club law, touching umpire is a grave offence in cricket, which could invite a ban.
Here’s is what Law 42 (Fair and unfair play) states:
2. Fair and unfair play - responsibility of umpires
The umpires shall be the sole judges of fair and unfair play. If either umpire considers an action, not covered by the Laws, to be unfair he shall intervene without appeal and, if the ball is in play, call and signal Dead ball and implement the procedure as set out in 18 below. Otherwise, umpires shall not interfere with the progress of play wi thout appeal except as required to do so by the Laws.
18. Players’ conduct
If there is any breach of the Spirit of the Game
either in the case of an unfair action not covered by the Laws, under 2 above,
or by a player,
either failing to comply with the instructions of an umpire,
or criticising an umpire’s decisions by word or action,
or showing dissent,
or generally behaving in a manner which might bring the game into disrepute,
the umpire concerned shall immediately report the matter to the other umpire.
The umpires together shall,
(i) inform the player’s captain of the occurrence, instructing the latter to take action.
(ii) warn him of the gravity of the offence, and tell him it will be reported to higher authority.
(iii) report the occurrence as soon as possible after the match to the Executive of the player’s team and to any Governing Body responsible for the match, who shall take such action as is considered appropriate against the captain and player or players and, if appropriate, team concerned.