There have been instances in various levels of cricket, where the situation has got out of hand on the cricket field, and even more so in the lower levels of cricket, leading to violent incidents. Besides these, players have been seen abusing one another on the cricket field, but the world cricket committee of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) are set to empower umpires with red cards, like football, and cricketers could be sent off.
Such kind of a ruling is expected to come into effect from October 2017. As of now, any untoward action on the cricket field is reported to the match referee at the end of day's play, and then action may be taken. But with this red card, the umpire will have the power to give them the marching orders.
Cricket is one of those sports, which is not a contact sport and such kind of violence or abuses bring the game to disrepute. The MCC feels that the umpires are not respected much, but with the introduction of red cards, one may see players thinking twice before their on-field actions.
"Evidence from people familiar with leagues in certain parts of England says behaviour has got a lot worse. Umpires have to be respected and given the best possible chance. Cricket is the only game apart from Australian Rules Football in which there isn't this possibility of an in-match deterrent," said Mike Brearley, the chairman of the MCC's world cricket committee.
"I think you call [cricket] a game that you play hard and play fair. The Spirit of Cricket is represented by that. That does not include hitting someone over the back of the head with a bat or punching them. This is for use in extreme cases."
This is an important step taking in the gentleman's to play the sport in the spirit of the game, which cricket takes prides on. Now, one hopes that the on-field umpires, who have to stand for the entire day to officiate the match, will start gaining respect worldwide.
