Avesh incident adds to SRH's grievance list

Lucknow Super Giants' win over Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday (April 5) came with controversy, thanks to Avesh Khan. Sunrisers are unhappy with how the game ended, as well as with a couple of other on-field decisions in their previous two matches.

After Rishabh Pant hit a boundary off the penultimate ball, bowled by Jaydev Unadkat, Avesh Khan, standing near the LSG dugout, struck the ball back into the ground with a bat. Some claim the ball had not crossed the boundary, and a section of social media argued SRH should be awarded five penalty runs, citing Law 20.1 (Dead Ball) and Law 41 (Unfair Play).

While it was improper and amateurish of Avesh Khan to touch the ball before it crossed the boundary, there was no fielder around to interrupt, so laws on unfair play do not apply.

Lucknow Super Giants needed only one run at that stage, with scores level. An umpire familiar with the situation said there was no case for overturning the boundary. However, there is chatter that Sunrisers may write to the BCCI over this episode and other instances.

Sources say the franchise is unhappy with Heinrich Klaasen's dismissal, caught at the boundary by Phil Salt off Romario Shepherd in their opening match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. They are also displeased with Abhishek Sharma's dismissal in their second match against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 2. Concerns have been raised over Varun Chakravarthy's catch off Blessing Muzarabani at deep square leg.

Sunrisers won their second game but lost their March 29 match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. While dismissals and results won't be overturned, sources say the franchise is likely to approach the BCCI if they haven't already.