5 Biggest Cricket Controversies Of 2024

The year 2024 had lots of exciting cricket moments and matches of high octane that caught the hearts of fans all over the world. Nonetheless, the year did not lack controversies as much, leaving fans disappointed and frustrated with what they saw. The debates are raised about fairness, transparency, and sportsmanship in this regard.

Five biggest cricket controversies that left fans around the world disappointed

1. ICC Bans USA’s National Cricket League (NCL)

 

The biggest cricket controversy of 2024, however, came with the International Cricket Council banning the National Cricket League, in the United States. As per the report, NCL-the American league, that attempted to popularize cricket in the US had several incidents violating the ICC rules specifically relating to player structure and affiliation.

The league had been repeatedly caught fielding teams with less than the requisite seven players affiliated with the United States of America Cricket (USAC). The ICC had other concerns regarding the quality of pitches in the league which resulted in injuries among many fast bowlers like Wahab Riaz and Tymal Mills, who were eventually advised to switch to spin bowling to avoid further damage.

Despite such big-name patrons like Wasim Akram and Viv Richards and co-owners such as Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar, the league was not so successful in keeping operational standards up. There were also allegations of breaches in immigration law and illegal sports visas, valued at $200,000. All this has now clouded the future of cricket development in the US.

2. LBW Decision Against Phoebe Litchfield in Women’s T20 World Cup

 

A cricket controversy surrounding an LBW decision against Australia’s Phoebe Litchfield during a match between her team and India dominated the headlines in the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup. Litchfield, batting for Australia, tried to execute a switch-hit off Deepti Sharma’s delivery in the 17th over when the umpire gave her out. Litchfield sought to review the decision after consulting her non-striking counterpart, Ellyse Perry.

Reviewing the replays found that the ball had pitched outside the leg stump of Litchfield when she had already switched from a left-handed to a right-handed stance.

The third umpire revoked the decision, but India contested the call, stating the ball should be judged according to Litchfield’s right-handed stance when she received the delivery. MCC Law 36.1.2 states that the impact of the ball on the batsman’s offside is deemed according to his or her stance at the time the ball is bowled, and since Litchfield was batting left-handed when the ball pitched, the decision was with her. The controversy raised questions about the interpretation of the laws and left the fans divided on the call’s correctness.

3. KL Rahul’s DRS Review Controversy in the Perth Test

 

Adding drama to India’s first Test match at Optus Stadium in Perth was a contentious dismissal involving KL Rahul when the Indian opener was given not out by the on-field umpire after an appeal for a caught behind, but the third umpire, Richard Illingworth, overturned the decision after reviewing the UltraEdge technology. The review indicated a spike on the screen where it seemed that the ball touched Rahul’s bat and pad together. But the noise from the ball hitting the pad of Rahul was read by the third umpire as a ball hitting the bat, which led to his dismissal.

The Indian team, which includes Rahul himself, was shocked at the decision taken by the umpire. This review left both players and fans unsatisfied with the final verdict, raising doubts over the accuracy of the technology and the possibility of misinterpretation. This was seen as a mismanaged review process, and the entire incident triggered debates over the DRS protocols across various nations.

4. Sunny Dhillon Banned for Match-Fixing Attempt

 

Another major cricket controversy that shook the cricketing world in 2024 was the six-year ban on the former assistant coach of the Abu Dhabi T10 League, Sunny Dhillon. The ICC’s Anti-Corruption Tribunal found Dhillon guilty of attempting to fix matches during the 2021 Abu Dhabi T10 League, violating the Emirates Cricket Board’s Anti-Corruption Code.

Dhillon’s ban was for a period up to September 2023 and had been levied based on charges brought under Article 2.1.1 of the Anti-Corruption Code, which bars any attempts to influence or fix the outcome of a match.

Dhillon was one of eight individuals charged with being involved in match-fixing activities during the tournament. The verdict brought out the constant struggle against corruption in cricket and the strong steps taken by the ICC to maintain the purity of the game. It has deeply disappointed the fans to involve a coach in such practices, which brought a cloud over the league and credibility.

5. Virat Kohli and Sam Constas’ Shoulder Collision in the Boxing Day Test

 

One of the most talked-about incidents in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy came on the first day of the Boxing Day Test when Virat Kohli was seen colliding with debutant Sam Constas on the field. The incident occurred during Constas’ batting innings when Kohli appeared to deliberately shoulder-barge the Australian debutant.

Many cricket fans and experts were outraged by Kohli’s actions, calling it an unsportsmanlike act

Kohli had always been appreciated for his reputation as a competitor and a leader, but this act of physical confrontation made people question his conduct on the field. Constas was visibly upset and vented out his frustration. Kohli was fined 20% of his match fee for the act and was also given a demerit point, which further fueled the debate about the standards of conduct expected from senior players. Fans, especially those who admired Kohli’s leadership and aggressive playing style, were disappointed by this lapse in sportsmanship.

A Year of Disappointment for Cricket Fans

The year 2024 was a rollercoaster for cricket fans, with many high points and exhilarating moments.

However, these five major controversies left a sour taste in the mouths of fans who were hoping for fair play, integrity, and sportsmanship. Whether administration, batting decisions, or off-the-pitch issues, these have reminded the world of cricket of its struggle to maintain being a fair sport and being just. It is hoped that in the future, lessons will be learned from these incidents so that cricket becomes more transparent and disciplined as a sport in the future.

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