BCCI Withdraws Complaint Against Steve Smith, Peter Handscomb, Here’s Why

BCCI has withdrawn the complaint against Steve Smith and Peter Handscomb on the controversial DRS review that triggered a war of words between Indian and Australian players during the 2nd Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Bengaluru.

Earlier on Thursday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India had lodged an official complaint trying to press Level 2 charge against Steve Smith and Handscomb for violating the spirit of the game. However, their decision to withdraw the complaint hasn’t been well received by the fans.

India vs Australia is always considered as one of the best sporting contests of the game and generates unmatched excitement among the fans from both countries. It’s not a hidden fact that Aussies have always opted for sledging and have taken the better of Indian’s temper. However, strategies like these are nothing when compared to the ‘Cheat-Gate’ controversy, which jolted the whole Cricket fraternity around the world.

This is what exactly happened.

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive James Sutherland and his BCCI counterpart, Rahul Johri met on Thursday evening and decided to let go of the controversy and focus more the remaining series. Johri, in a statement, said:

“India has always cherished a contest with Australia and over the years, the performances of both, the teams and the players, are a testimony to the level of competitiveness that exists between these two teams”.

“While having responded officially to one such incident which happened in the last Test, together, we believe that the focus of the teams and the joy they provide to the fans, should not be diluted and it is imperative to ensure that the rest of the series, which promises a great cricketing contest, not be compromised”.

Sutherland on his part said, “We have agreed that it is in the best interests of the game to put these differences aside and clear the way for the focus to be on the cricket and the remaining matches of the series.”

My Take

Yes, the game itself is more important than any controversy but the question that is eating every Indian Cricket fans from the inside is, “Shouldn’t a culprit be punished to save the ‘Holy Spirit of The Game’ and what kind of lesson will this decision inflict on other players?”

If you are anything of a fan like I am, Yes, you will be cherishing that India won the Test and defied all odds, but what if an Indian player was on the receiving end of this controversy? Wouldn’t you have launched an all out abusing-spree against him on the Internet?

And if some of you think that the decision to withdraw the complaint against Steve Smith and Peter Handscomb is valid to some point as no proper evidence has surfaced, then why do you always mark Mohammad Azharuddin as a traitor to this Gentleman’s game?