5 controversial moments at Asia Cup 2016

The Asia Cup concluded with Team India emerging as the winners. They defeated Bangladesh in the final by 8 wickets and deservedly lifted their sixth Asia Cup. It has witnessed some memorable performances. But it had its share of controversies too, mostly on the field and some off it too.As we reminisce about the just concluded tournament, let us have a look at some of the controversial incidents that made the headlines and went viral in the social media.

#5 Shakib hitting the stumps with his bat

Furious Shakib hit the stumps with his bat

The Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan had a tournament he would love to forget. Not only with his dismal performances, Shakib let himself down with on-field antics too.

He landed in trouble as he was given an official reprimand by the International Cricket Council for breaching Level 1 of ICC code of conduct during the match against Pakistan in Mirpur on March 2nd in the ongoing Asia Cup.

According to a press release by ICC, the talismanic all-rounder was found to have breached Article 2.1.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International match”.

The unpleasant incident took place in the 18th over of the Bangladesh innings. Bangladesh in pursuit of Pakistan’s total of 129-8, required 26 off the last three overs as Shakib took guard against Mohammad Amir in the 18th over.

Amir started the over with a magnificent yorker and put the pressure back on Shakib who was struggling a little bit with this timing. On the next ball, Shakib attempted a lap shot but he chose the wrong ball to do so. The stumps were uprooted.

What followed was an amalgamation of sheer anger and frustration, as Shakib furiously hit the stumps with his bat. It was such an instantaneous reaction. Shakib quickly realized what he had done and tried to make amends by apologizing to the umpire.

#4 Thisara Perera\'s controversial stumping

The replays clearly showed that Perrera made his ground

The umpiring stooped to a certain low in the game between India and Sri Lanka. The incident occurred in the 19th over of the Sri Lankan inning when Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin bowled a wide delivery outside off stump to fox Thisara Perera who was coming down the track. Perera missed the ball and Dhoni as usual took the bails off in lightning fast speed.

The leg-umpire Shozab Raza didn’t even refer to the third umpire and gave Perera out though the replays clearly showed that he had already made his ground.

It was a horrible call from the umpire as he had the option to refer it to third umpire. He didn’t and Perera paid the price.

It’s bemusing that when you have technology at your disposal but you are not using it. Was it an act of bravado or what? Only the umpire can tell that.

#3 The Mohammad Sami No Balls

Mohammad Sami's invaluable contribution to the Bangladeshi win tonight. #BanvsPak #Towel via @PeterDellaPenna pic.twitter.com/ALMi6V2xul

— Aditya (@forwardshortleg) March 2, 2016

Bangladesh required 18 runs from the last two overs against Pakistan to book a spot in the final. Mohammad Sami was given the task to bowl the penultimate over. What happened next was nothing less than a horror story for Sami and Pakistan.

Sami started the over well. Suddenly he bowled a no ball and to add to his misfortune the ball was caught at long off. Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza showed presence of mind and ran two in between. To make matters worse, Sami bowled another no ball and Mahmudullah hit a boundary off that. It was curtains for Pakistan.

The ‘no balls’ haunted Pakistan once again and created a huge round of controversy. Courtesy of those no balls, the match swung in Bangladesh’s favour and they won the game.

#2 Poor Umpiring

A stunned Nehra after not getting the verdict in his favour

The umpiring in the entire Asia Cup was awful to say the least. Barring the final, the umpiring has been below par throughout the tournament.

Known to be a cool customer, Indian skipper MS Dhoni lost his head too, when Pakistan batsman Khurram Manzoor was given not out despite nicking a ball by Ashish Nehra in the India-Pakistan game.

Dhoni even had a chat with the Bangladeshi umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid on the field after he turned down India's vociferous appeal.

In the same match, Virat Kohli was adjudged leg before wicket despite an inside edge and Kohli was bemused by the verdict as he was batting on 49.

In other matches too, umpiring was not up to the mark. In the Bangladesh-Pakistan game, Mohammad Hafeez was given LBW despite the ball going down the leg. Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim too was a victim of poor umpiring in the same match.

It seems that the umpires became the antagonists of the tournament.

#1 Dhoni-Taskin Morphed Image

The image went viral and create a huge uproar (Source: ibnlive.com)

Just before the all-important final of the Asia Cup, things got heated because of an image that went viral in the social media. The image showed Bangladesh fast bowler Taskin Ahmed holding a severed head of Indian skipper MS Dhoni.

The photoshopped image created a huge controversy and received a lot of flak. The Indian fans in the social media became agitated and started anti-Bangladesh campaigns in the social media.

The issue became so serious that even current Indian Team Manager Ravi Shastri was even asked to comment on the issue but the latter clearly said that the Indian team do not read newspapers and their only job is to play cricket.

Everything was done in such bad taste that it left everyone in utter disbelief. Cricket was supposed to be a gentleman’s game but these sort of incidents are an aberration for sure.