The ongoing edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has been marred with controversy yet again, this time for the ‘mobile phone’ saga.
One of the members in the Karachi Kings’ camp in the dugout was seen talking over the phone, during their match against Peshawar Zalmi.
Later on, Karachi Kings’ head coach Dean Jones clarified the matter after the snapshot of the incident started doing rounds all over social media.
“Like in ALL T20 cricket. The manager/CEO is the only one allowed to have a phone. In this case Tariq. Our CEO is doing work. Here he is organising us Practice times for today. Thanks for your concern,” claimed the former Australian international.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) recently came up with their statement subjected to the matter. The apex cricketing board called the issue as an internal matter of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Further, ICC stated that its rules and regulation do not fall under the jurisdiction of the domestic tournaments, in this instance Pakistan. “It’s a domestic match and as such an issue for the PCB,” the official claimed as quoted as saying by TOI.
Former Pakistan international, Shoaib Akhtar, also condemned the incident through his tweet, “This is wrong, using a mobile phone in the dugout.”
This is so wrong using mobile phone in dug out…. pic.twitter.com/hU3GLlTjXI
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) February 21, 2020
Normal protocol dictates that players and support staff must submit their mobile phone to the Anti-Corruption Board before the start of the game. Furthermore, only walkie-talkies are allowed for communication between players and the coaching staff.
On the contrary, according to sub-article 4.2 of the ICC clarifies that “each team manager shall be permitted to carry a Mobile Device within the PMOA, provided that it can only be used either: (a) by him/her for cricket operations purposes; and/or (b) by any Player or Player Support Personnel for any important personal matter.”
