Former Indian cricket team skipper, MS Dhoni, has been generating buzz not for his cricket skills, but for his fondness of Pakistani cuisine. In a video making the rounds on social media, Dhoni can be spotted encouraging a fan to venture to Pakistan to relish in their delectable food. Having previously visited the country as part of the India squad, Dhoni is a huge fan of the local cuisine and wholeheartedly urged the fan to partake in the experience. However, the fan’s response left Dhoni in stitches as he adamantly refused to go, despite acknowledging his own love for food.
In other cricket updates, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has delivered a blow to Rohit Sharma-led Team India by penalising them with a deduction of two crucial ICC World Test Championship points. This penalty stems from India’s slow over-rate during the first Test against South Africa in Centurion. Additionally, India has been fined 10 per cent of their match fee for failing to bowl two overs within the stipulated time.
According to the ICC, match referee Chris Broad imposed the sanction after determining that India was two overs short of the target, even after time allowances were considered. As per the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, players are fined five per cent of their match fee for each over their side fails to bowl in the designated time. Furthermore, under the ICC World Test Championship playing conditions, a team loses one point for each over they are short, resulting in the deduction of two World Test Championship points from India’s tally.
India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, admitted to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, thereby avoiding a formal hearing. The on-field umpires, Paul Reiffel and Langton Rusere, as well as the third and fourth umpires, all levelled the charge against the team.
As a consequence of the Test defeat and the subsequent penalty, India’s standing in the ICC World Test Championship has taken a hit. The team has dropped to fifth place with 16 points from three Tests, and a points percentage of 44.44. What’s more, the point deduction has pushed India below Australia to the sixth position, with 14 points and a points percentage of 38.89.
It appears that both a lighthearted moment featuring Dhoni’s culinary recommendation and a disappointing turn of events for Team India have been making waves in the cricket world. Only time will reveal how these incidents will shape the future of the sport.
