Pant’s injury exposed ICC’s weird rule that gives the opponent side an edge
India are on the edge after Rishabh Pant had to be carried away off the field after he suffered a foot injury, which will keep him away for the remainder of the series. Pant, who has been consistent with his batting alongside captain Shubman Gill and KL Rahul, is considered the backbone of the team. However, his injury left India in a peculiar position, thanks to the ICC’s weird rule.
Highlighted by veteran journalist Boria Majumdar, it is peculiar that, as per the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) rulebook, when a player suffers a concussion, the rulebook allows for a substitution. However, Pant’s injury, which falls under the category of an external injury, means that in such cases, a team is disallowed from making a substitution.
Such an incident makes the game a lopsided affair because one team gets an upper injury. In India’s case, the absence of Rishabh Pant in the match means India is left with one less batter for the remainder of the innings, whereas England remains sharp with all its strength. It is not only about Rishabh Pant’s batting but also his wicket-keeping skills, which are equally important in Test cricket.
Pant’s style of playing the game in an unorthodox manner also makes him a threat to the English bowlers. His ability to make quick runs when works, does wonders for the team, but at the same time, he has been criticised because of the risk associated with such gameplay.
India can rely on Dhruv Jurel in the absence of Rishabh Pant, but the difference in the quality and impact is evident.
(Credit - TOI)
Another thing to note is that umpires do not have much say when such situations arise unexpectedly. With so much cricketing experience, it is high time umpires get to be the judge of the on-ground situation rather than what’s written in the rulebook of the ICC that cannot be implemented in every situation. The implementation of a rule should be done after a situation is analysed, and who better than the umpires of the game?
Rishabh Pant’s injury also highlighted the gap in the safety quotient of the shoes worn by cricketers. The ball hit Pant’s toe at an immense pace, leaving it swollen and bleeding. Over the years, safety gear in cricket has improved, but now it seems the shoes worn by players also need an upgrade. For example, a Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) shock absorber structure can be positioned in the toe, ankle, and heel area to increase safety. Such a structure is found on motorcycle riding boots.
Given the issue of the substitution being heavily highlighted by the media and several sports pundits, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), being a strong cricket-governing body, should request the ICC for a change in rules if cricket-governing bodies of other countries also share a similar concern. Will we witness a change in the substitution rules in the near future? Only time will tell.
