Virat Kohli in World Cup 'cheating' storm as illegal act comes to light

Cricket fans have lashed out at umpires at the T20 World Cup after Bangladesh were denied five crucial runs in a five-run loss to India on Wednesday night.

India moved top of their group while putting Bangladesh's semi-final prospects in peril in a drama-charged match at Adelaide Oval.

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India made 6-184 with Virat Kohli (64 not out) becoming the highest run-scorer in World Cup history and the highest scorer this tournament - at an average of 220.

Bangladesh opener Litton Das then blasted 60 from 27 balls in response before his team lost momentum during a 52-minute rain delay which reduced their target to 151 from 16 overs.

Bangladesh could only manage 6-145, meaning India won by five runs. However controversy erupted in the aftermath of the match after Kohli was spotted in an illegal act of 'fake fielding' that went unnoticed by umpires.

Before the rain struck, Kohli could be seen pretending to field a throw from an outfielder while Bangladesh were running between wickets - an apparent attempt to deceive Das into thinking the ball wasn't going to his end.

The ICC moved to outlaw 'fake fielding' some years ago, with a five-run penalty to be incurred by the fielding team.

ICC rules state: "It is unfair for any fielder wilfully to attempt, by word or action, to distract, deceive or obstruct either batsman after the striker has received the ball."

Speaking after the match, Bangladesh player Nurul Hasan said: “You saw that we had to play in a wet outfield. But there was also a case of fake fielding which did not go our way."

Hasan claimed the umpires were informed about the incident, but no action was taken. With Bangladesh eventually losing by five runs, fans were left fuming that Kohli's actions went unnoticed and five penalty runs weren't awarded.

India beat Bangladesh in controversial scenes

Many also questioned whether play should have resumed after the rain delay, suggesting the field was unsafe.

Bangladesh were 0-66 when rain stopped play, 17 runs ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis par score. Bangladesh players appeared furious when umpires ordered play to resume, and drama came about instantly when they went back onto the field.

On ball one after the delay, Das slipped when aborting a turn for a second run and sought treatment on his left wrist. Next ball, he again slipped on the turn before being run out by a direct-hit rocket throw from KL Rahul when attempting a second run.

Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan was spotted in a lengthy chat with umpires after the match, but played down the controversy afterwards.

"It was a little slippery with the amount of rain we had," he said.

"Normally that suits the batting side rather than (the) bowling side. But we should not make that excuse."

Earlier, Kohli's superb 44-ball knock took his overall tally to 1065 runs in 25 World Cup innings, surpassing Sri Lankan great Mahela Jayawardene's 1016 runs from 31 knocks.

The Indian star has now scored the most runs in this edition - 220 runs for one dismissal.

Kohli's latest knock also extended a love affair with Adelaide Oval where he averages 75.58 with five tons and three half-centuries in Tests, one-dayers and T20s.

Kohli featured in an explosive 67-run stand with Rahul, who blasted four sixes in making 50 from 32 balls, while Suryakumar Yadav struck 30 from 16 deliveries.

India will be hot favourites to defeat Zimbabwe in their last group game on Sunday.

South African meet Pakistan on Thursday and the Netherlands on Sunday, while Bangladesh play Pakistan on Sunday.

with AAP

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