New Delhi: Former Australian wicketkeeper/batsman Adam Gilchrist and now a member of the Deccan Chargers team gave his reaction on the Sourav Ganguly-Shane Warne spat.
"It is not for me to cast an opinion on that. Obviously what this is highlighting is the passion with which every player is playing in this tournament and that's fantastic. It is showing that what it means to all the players and all the teams and all the coaches. Whole passion has been ignited to an amazing level and that's got to be positive thing," Gilchrist said
Gilchrist was also asked as to how he felt the issue had been handled and he was of the opinion that the IPL was right in dealing with the issue with a firm hand.
"I better clarify one thing. I have never claimed to be an angel on the field and don't show dissent. I have actually over my career many, many sitting downs in front of the match referee and in fact been fined over a few times. Please don't be deceived by the perception out there. I am as aggressive as any one out there," Gilchrist said.
"It is hopefully not going to take away from cricket. It is a shame that this issue has come up but again I have reiterated it is showing the intensity with which the players are playing and it is also showing how serious the IPL as a body is regarding player behaviour in the spirit of the game and I think it is interesting the statement that IPL is making to not just the players but to the cricket world that this isn't just about business, it is not just about getting money to the game or giving private package or the opportunity to own a cricket team. It is legitimate cricket. It is full time cricket, as we know it. Then they are stating that we will have to abide by the laws of the game, the code of conduct of the game that we all have to do elsewhere when we are playing for our country. So a strong statement out of the IPL on all this," he added.
And he was pretty amused at how well two big rivals in the game; Warne and Graeme Smith were now part of the same team.
"It's been brilliant. I have loved it, i have loved seeing that Shane Warne and Graeme Smith can be in the same team and embrace each other. They have been rivals for years and yet you see two Indian players going against each other when they are opponents. That's the beauty of the game and that’s the passion of the sports and for long it may continue," he said.
On the controversy surrounding Ganguly's catch, Gilchrist said that players must take the fielders' word in such cases but he was comfortable if some players did not do so.
"I think it has been very well stated around the world over recent years that Ricky Ponting has tried to encourage every international captain to get back into the spirit of cricket and encourage to take the word of the fielder. That is very much the direction of Ricky as a captain and I support Ricky in that. We have tried to encourage the world to take the word of the fielder. If on later evidence it shows that the fielder hadn't taken that catch cleanly well then it can be dealt with. That particular fielder will have to deal with the adverse reaction that they would get," he said.
"Often Ricky has been knocked back at international captain's meeting. Most of the captains said that they don't feel that's the way they can play cricket. I suppose it is showing a bit of distrust in the other team. So that's not a great thing for the game. On the back of that I like to think that I will always take the word of the fielder. That's my intention. I am not going to preach to anyone. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but again it comes down to the spirit of the game and taking the word of the fielder is something that should be encouraged."
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