Kolkata: The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB)'s mismanagement again came to the fore as irate Bengal fans heckled Railways skipper Murali Kartik and speedster Anureet Singh taking chance of lack of security arrangements on the third day of the ill-tempered Ranji quarter-final between Railways and Bengal.
After an allegation of "ball-tampering" against the duo on day three of their match today, irate fans today targetted the duo as they mobbed them hurling choicest of expletives just outside the Eden Gardens main gate.
With little security and no arrangement from the CAB, many even went inside the stadium and near the dressing room and came within touching distance of the players.
Such was the mayhem that the Railways players were denied the mandatory media interaction and the duo could have been easily hurt by the angry fans.
"You people have already made me villain, making me in the eye of storm. I'm not going to say anything," the veteran India spinner told PTI.
"I've played here for three seasons and this is what I expect from them. Let them shout. I'm not going to say anything," he said referring to his Kolkata Knight Riders stint.
In fact all this happened in front of CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya who pleaded not to exaggerate the matter.
"Please don't exaggerate it, we will see to the matter and do whatever necessary is required," Dalmiya told PTI.
Provoked by the fans hurling abuses, the Railways pacer Anureet even lost his cool as he went up to a fan but before it could go out of control the handful of policemen put them into a car as they could not board the team bus.
Kartik was in the centre of another controversy after there were allegations of "ball tampering" during Bengal's second innings as the Railways skipper was warned and the ball was changed in the 15th over.
Soon fans kept on shouting 'Go back Kartik' from the upper tier of the club house as abuses flew thick and fast.
The fans were all the more furious because it was Kartik who had 'Mankaded' Bengal batsman Sandipan Das in a ill-tempered league stage encounter in New Delhi last month.
Kartik warned by umpires, Bengal alleges ball tampering
Kartik warned by umpires, Bengal alleges ball tampering
Kolkata: Veteran spinner and Railways captain Murali Kartik was today embroiled in a controversy once again after he was warned by the umpires for some "issues" with the ball in an acrimonious day three of their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal match against Bengal here.
Match referee Rajendra Jadeja said that he has received a report from the umpires who changed the ball after warning Kartik.
"Yes I've received a report from the umpires who thought there were some issues with the ball and they warned the bowling team captain (Kartik) and the ball was changed," Jadeja said.
If such an incident further occurs then it would be case of ball tampering, Jadeja, of the Saurashtra CA, said.
"The ball tampering comes in the Level 2.9 offence and as we cannot say who has done it, it's the captain who is imposed a fine in the range of 50 to 100 per cent of the match fee," he added.
A decision on whether to ban a player is taken by the Board's disciplinary committee, Jadeja said.
Bengal team manager Debabrata Das said his side noticed the incident just after lunch when Abhimanyu Easwaran was castled by Anureet Singh for a golden duck in the fifth over by a "reverse swing".
Leveling ball tampering charges against Kartik and pacer Anureet Singh, he said, "The ball started reversing from the fourth over which was just impossible. They were pricking the ball and coach Ashok Malhotra and I complained this to the Match Referee."
He further said umpire Suresh Shastri at the High Court end warned Kartik and changed the ball at the drinks break in the second session when Bengal were 15/2 in 14 overs.
Just a month after both the teams were engaged in an ill-tempered match, triggered by a 'Mankading' incident by Kartik at league stage in New Delhi, Bengal and Railways renewed their bitter rivalry here once again.Kartik was apparently involved in a heated exchange with Ashoke Dinda and his Bengal counterpart Laxmi Ratan Shukla after hitting a six against Sourav Sarkar this morning.
Dinda wiped the tail en route to his 6/105 to give Bengal a three-run first innings lead and in reply Railways had the hosts in trouble at 7/2 in the eighth over.
Now it was the Railways turn to give it back with Subhomoy Das and Sudip Chatterjee at the receiving end.
It all started when umpire Shastri ruled out a close caught behind appeal of Subhomoy in the ninth over as Anureet bowled five maiden overs on the trot.
In each of his delivery, Singh ran up to the batsman and exchanged something, while Kartik was too giving a back up from the slip.
Kartik was seen vigorously rubbing the ball on back side of left thigh and apparently shouting something to the batsmen. There was a delay for more than five minutes as both the umpires summoned Kartik to warn against some "issues" with the ball.
Such was the panic among the Bengal batsmen that Subhomoy chose to chase down a dead ball that slipped out of Ranjit Mali's hand and went into the slip cordon.
Looking to hit over the covers, the poor Shubhomoy only made a mockery of the scene by slipping and falling in the field as Bengal moved at snails pace with 15/2 in 14 overs at the drinks break and the ball was changed.
Shouting slogans of 'go back Kartik', fans hurled choicest of expletives against the former India left-arm spinner who had earned the 'villain's' tag after he 'Mankaded' Sandipan during their league match in New Delhi last month.
Such was the acrimony, Bengal players refused the customary handshake against the Railmen who secured three points by virtue of a first innings lead in the league match.
Meanwhile, Bengal's Writtick Chatterjee was fined 10 per cent of his match fee for showing dissent on being given out caught behind on during Bengal's first innings yesterday.
Match referee Jadeja judged it as a Grade 1 offence as the batsman stood his ground even after the umpire raised his finger.
Bengal skipper downplays on-field incidents
Bengal skipper downplays on-field incidents
Kolkata: Bengal skipper Laxmi Ratan Shukla today sought to downplay the acrimonious incidents during the third day of their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal match against Railways, saying what happened on the field were within the spirit of the game.
"We are playing a tough sport on the field and not in a play house. Such things happen, you give and take it back... But such things should not spill over the field," Shukla said.
Shukla refused to comment on the allegations of "ball tampering" against the rival team, but confirmed that Murali Kartik and Co. were warned for doing something with the ball.
"I don't know (what happened)... I've no comments," Shukla said, adding that his focus was on rebuilding his side's innings.
He also ruled out sledging and said: "There was no abuse, nothing happened" even as it was apparent from the gallery that there were enough exchanges between the two teams.
A valiant unbeaten 63 by Shukla in a 93-run unbroken partnership with Wriddhiman Saha (30 batting) repaired Bengal innings from being 40/4 as they were 133/4 in their second essay, with a lead of 136.
Shukla said their focus would be to bat as long as they can to hand Railways a stiff target.
"No target is safe. The longer we bat, the better would be for us," he said.
Shukla praised Ashoke Dinda who claimed 6/105 to hand Bengal a slender three-run first innings lead.
"It was an outstanding effort by Dinda, (Sourav) Sarkar and (Shib Shankar) Paul. Dinda was bowling full bloodied effort in his fiery spell. The whole team has charged up by seeing him," Shukla said.
Sitting beside the skipper, Dinda said: "We'll give 200 per cent tomorrow -- giving both our heart and soul to win the game."
Asked whether they were under pressure with Railways looking to take a first innings lead, Dinda said: "We were never in backfoot. We had the self belief and faith in our abilities as we did finally. Now, we don't want to spoil our effort."
