Shubman Gill and Cameron Green. (Photo by Philip Brown/Popperfoto/Popperfoto via Getty Images and Twitter)
The five days of the World Test Championship final (WTC) 2023 were a roller coaster ride for both India and Australia. As the Pat Cummins-led side emerged victorious to clinch their maiden WTC title, there were a lot of talking points throughout the game.
After the conclusion of the match, the ICC (International Cricket Council) saw fit to impose hefty fines on team India, Australia, and star Indian opener Shubman Gill. The Indian team were fined 100 percent of their match fees for maintaining a slow over rate, whereas Australia was fined 80 percent for the same. According to several reports, only 85, 74.3, and 75.4 overs were bowled in the first three days of the WTC final, with the general rule being 90 overs in a day.
Furthermore, Gill was fined 15 percent of his match fee apart from the sanctioned team fee for public criticism of his dismissal in the second innings of the game. Gill fell prey to Scott Boland on Day 4 of the match, when India aimed to chase down a target of 444 runs. As the 23-year-old nicked the ball to Cameron Green, the Australian all-rounder took a brilliant catch in the slips. However, many opined that Shubman Gill was not out, as the ball was seen touching the ground when Green caught it.
Ultimately, the decision went to the third umpire, and Gill was deemed out, which stirred a lot of controversy across various social media platforms. Gill also took to Instagram to call out the umpires for their decision-making. However, this public criticism of the official’s decision led to the 23-year-old being slapped with a 15 percent match fee fine.
Many fans took to Twitter to lambast the ICC for their decision-making, and many even asked for the umpires to be handed a fine as well. Ultimately, the decision went Australia’s way, as Gill was dismissed and the rest of the batting lineup failed to make an impact during the run chase as well, as the Indian team were bundled out for 234 runs.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to the ICC imposing fines:
SHAME ON YOU ICC
WHY YOU DON’T FINE OR SUSPENDED Richard Kettleborough
FOR MAKING A BLUNDER, IF PLAYER MAKING A MISTAKE U FINED THEM.
WHY YOU SHOULD NOT FINE ANY UMPIRE OR SUSPENDED#SHUBHANKARMISHRA #GautamGambhir #ICC #BCCI #HarbhajanSingh #RAJATSHARMA #SHAMEONICC#Virat
— Sraman Ghosh (@SramanGhosh2) June 12, 2023
@ICC
How much was the third umpire fined for wrongly changing the course of the match?!@BCCI
Only your players commit mistake and disobey rules? If anyone is the management does this, he is accountable to fine right!?
We accept defeat but this is unjust. pic.twitter.com/LrqbMRLrw3
— Ribhu Mishra (@ribhurix) June 12, 2023
Fining indian players is ok
But where is fine for the empire who made the decission in hurry
He didn’t check many angles in that catch
, When reviews are taken , not many times no ball is checked
What kind of third umpire is he ?@ICC keep fine for that umpire also
— Varapraveen Reddy (@PraveenVara) June 12, 2023
Why don’t fine umpire for the wrong decision 🤔😒??? @ICC @CricketAus @cricketaakash
— Vihar Badiyani (@ViharBadiyani) June 12, 2023
How much was the fine for #RichardKettleborough for giving a wrong decision with the technology at his disposal? You need to be fair to both players and umpires.
— Biswajit Patnaik (@patnaikbiswajit) June 12, 2023
And what about the Fine for the Third Umpire who adjudicated Shubman Out when it was clearly Not Out. Ball touching ground visuals have been posted. Will Richard be fined 100% and not Umpire for 2 matches ?
— Avinash Ravinuthala (@avinash_elorce) June 12, 2023
Wow
The umpire makes a mistake and the played affected has to pay the fine?
Make it make sense ICC https://t.co/w5wOABLmWt
— @JYOT_JAIN10 (@Jyot39488790) June 12, 2023
What about bad umpiring? will you fine umpires as well or this is just wannabe superior gimmick..🤡
— Abhishek (@NotYourPapaaa) June 12, 2023
This is the only way to protect your self by making wrong decisions….. You don’t even think that is very cheape @ICC how can you fine 115% to @ShubmanGill even the wrong decision is yours…. Whole world knows that the decision is wrong but not @ICC
— Maximus Decimus Meridius (@GaneshK07165244) June 12, 2023
Wtf is wrong with @ICC
Taking fine from our star player shubman gill just he because he posted the right thing 😒
He was clearly not out and v.sehwag, and many great players believe that third umpire was smoking some High stuff while making his decision..#ShubmanGill #ICCWTC2023
— sayan (@iamsayan_16) June 12, 2023
Why not icc being sanctioned fine for poor umpiring?? Pathetic…
— parmanand mishra (@parmanandmishra) June 12, 2023
He didn’t say anything. Just like so many others, he also shared the picture that even ICC shared. What’s wrong ?
This is completely biased decision to fine him.
— Kaushal Shah (@KKshah11nj) June 12, 2023
If ICC has any sense then they should fine umpire
— SRIKISHAN (@krishaskishu) June 12, 2023