Former Pakistan bowling quick Shoaib Akhtar believes Quinton de Kock’s actions during the Fakhar Zaman run-out incident this past Sunday damaged the spirit of cricket.
Akhtar had a lot to say about the incident and other aspects of the Pink ODI, which the Proteas won by 17 runs, in numerous Twitter posts.
During the final over the game, De Kock pointed towards the bowler’s end as Zaman was running back for a second run. The Pakistan opener slowed down, thinking De Kock’s indication meant an incoming throw from the boundary was heading to the other end. Instead, Aiden Markram scored a direct hit at the wicketkeeper’s end, where Zaman was left short of his ground.
The incident has since led to widespread opinions by current and former players, as well as cricket lovers from across the world.
READ: Shamsi clarifies De Kock-Zaman drama
Speaking in a YouTube video, Akhtar said De Kock shouldn’t have forcefully acted in that manner to get Zaman dismissed.
‘The spirit of the game was hurt, which I didn’t like. Quinton de Kock is a great player and he shouldn’t do it deliberately. Fakhar thought that when the throw was made it would come to the non-striker’s end and he [De Kock] made the same gesture,’ explained Akhtar.
‘When the match referee is watching everything, getting replays again and again but still you are unable to make a decision, why did they have a problem implementing the laws here?’
Akthar added that should Pakistan have received five penalty runs, as is the on-field sanction for a fake gesture, then Pakistan would have had a chance of winning the game and Zaman would probably have reached his double-century.
‘I felt bad because I wanted Fakhar to become the only Pakistani batsman to have two double hundreds. If those penalty runs were given to Pakistan, they would’ve won the game easily. But, I was disappointed that the decision wasn’t made then and there,’ he explained.
