During the India vs Pakistan ODI, Bishan Singh Bedi shocked the cricket world by walking India off the field in protest of biased umpiring.
While cricket has seen many star-studded figures, on September 25, 1946, a star of Indian cricket was born, earning numerous titles, including the “King of Spin” and “Sardar of Spin.” We are talking about former Indian cricket captain Bishan Singh Bedi, who was part of the renowned “spin quartet” in Indian cricket history. Bedi not only dazzled the world with his bowling, but as a captain, he also showed the courage to take decisions that make him one of the most courageous figures in Indian cricket. Whether it was catching England’s fast bowler John Lever by applying Vaseline to the ball to induce swing, or declaring against the dangerous West Indies pace quartet to protect his bowlers from injury on the field. Bedi always surprised people with his bold decisions. One such decision was to walk out with the entire team in protest against the umpires’ dishonesty in a match against Pakistan. This decision cost Team India a nearly won match, but Bedi demonstrated that cricket shouldn’t just be a “gentleman’s game” in name, but also that it should be a gentlemanly behavior on the field.
This incident occurred during the 1978 tour of Pakistan.
The Indian cricket team, captained by Bishan Singh Bedi, toured Pakistan in 1978. The two teams were tied 1-1 in the three-match ODI series. The third and decisive match was to be played in Sahiwal on November 3, 1978. The winning team would have won the series. Remember, the rivalry between India and Pakistan was even more intense in those days than the rivalry we see today. Batting first, Pakistan scored 205 for 7 in a 40-over match, with Hyderabad-born Asif Iqbal scoring 62 runs off 72 balls. Kapil Dev, S. Venkataraghavan, and Mohinder Amarnath each took two wickets.
Indian team put up a strong performance
The Indian cricket team responded with a strong performance, reaching 183 for 2 in 37 overs. Anshuman Gaekwad was batting on 78, while Surinder Amarnath was dismissed for 62. Surinder was Mohinder Amarnath’s brother. Pakistan had one over from Imran Khan and two from Sarfaraz Nawaz remaining. Team India needed 23 runs from 18 balls to win, a very easy target. India was almost certain to win the match and the series.
Pakistan Started Dishonesty
Seeing their team losing the series, Pakistani umpires resorted to dishonesty. The Pakistani team devised a strategy of throwing bouncers at the batsmen. A bouncer bowled by Sarfraz Nawaz passed so high above the head of Gaikwad, who was batting in front, that it was impossible to play a shot. Despite this, the umpire did not declare the ball wide. The same thing happened with the next ball. The third and fourth balls of the over passed nearly 6 feet above Gaikwad’s head.
Bedi Enraged, Left the Pavilion and Returned to the Field
Seeing the umpires’ dishonesty, Bishan Singh Bedi became enraged. He left the pavilion and went straight to the field. He immediately made a decision that shocked the Pakistan Cricket Board. Bedi instructed his batsmen to leave the pitch. This was the first time a captain had ordered a team to walk out in a One Day International match. The umpires declared Pakistan the winner, and they won the series 2-1. But Bedi’s decision sparked international debate. Pakistan was widely condemned. Following this, the demand for neutral umpires in One Day International matches gained momentum. The International Cricket Council (ICC) permanently banned Sahiwal from international matches. Bedi’s bold decision is remembered to this day.
Disclaimer: The story “‘When Cricket needed Courage’: Bishan Singh Bedi’s Historic walkout against Pakistan in 1978” first appeared on Cricket Country and is syndicated via Digpu & NewsTex.