'It was a nice gesture': Sodhi appreciates Bangladesh team for calling him back
"I think it was a great gesture by Bangladesh. I think they handled it really really well and really fortunate they were able to call me back and I’d like to think if I was in that situation as a bowler, I’d do the same thing," Sodhi, was adjudged the player of the match for his career-best six-for and an important 35 with the bat, said in the post-match press conference.
Ish Sodhi has appreciated Litton Das and Bangladesh team for calling him back after getting run out at the non-striker's end during the first innings of second ODI between Bangladesh and New Zealand at Mirpur on Saturday. The incident happened during the 46th over of New Zealand's innings.
Hasan Mahmud saw nonstriker Sodhi who was unbeaten on 17 off 26 balls, leaving his creasing before his delivery. He dislodged the stumps and appealed for a run out. Sodhi was out short of the crease, as he seemed to walk down.
As he was adjuged run out, Sodhi walked back with a sarcastic smile and clapped.
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Bangladesh skipper Litton Das had a chat with the umpire Marais Erasmus and decided to withdraw the appeal and call Sodhi call back before he reached the dressing room. Upon returning to the crease, Hasan Mahmud and Sodhi hugged each other as a symbol of Spirit of cricket.
"I think it was a great gesture by Bangladesh. I think they handled it really really well and really fortunate they were able to call me back and I'd like to think if I was in that situation as a bowler, I'd do the same thing," Sodhi, was adjudged the player of the match for his career-best six-for and an important 35 with the bat, said in the post-match press conference.
"Like I said, if I was in that situation as a bowler, I would do the same thing. You know playing under some great captains over the past few years for New Zealand, I think they would've done the same thing. I think Litton Das was exceptional the way he handled it."
Sodhi said it is important to keep the spirit of cricket high despite both side's players getting competitive on the field.
"We get competitive out there but hugged the bowler and sort of had a little handshake because at the end of the day, we're really competitive and want to win games for our country. But we all respect the game of cricket very highly and really endeavor to keep the spirit of cricket."
Sodhi mentioned he wouldn't 'mankad' in the first place, even though it is very much within the rules now and is called runout and not mankad.
"Firstly, I would like to think I wouldn't mankad out there, personally, but, I understand that it is part of the game. It is part of the rules of the game now. You've seen all over the world it's happening, and it is like a controversial issue but it is part of the rules and they could've easily just let me go, walk off, but huge credit to the sportsmanship they showed out there today," he further said.
"We were fortunate to come out as the winning side. It's really important to keep the spirit, again, alive, especially when we're playing such competitive cricket and wanting to win games for our country," he concluded.
