25% fine for this is a bit of 'overspin', Hogg criticizes ICC for Moeen's punishment
The incident happened on the second day of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston. On the boundary, off-spinner Moeen was seen using a spray on his right arm, which was mainly used to keep his hands dry.
Khan Mutasim Billah LifeEditor
Posted - 2023-06-19T23:32:05+06:00
Updated - 2023-06-19T23:32:05+06:00
Former Australian spinner Brad Hogg believes Moeen Ali's fine for using drying agent is a bit of 'overspin'. According to him, Moeen could have used it secretly if he wanted.
The incident happened on the second day of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston. On the boundary, off-spinner Moeen was seen using a spray on his right arm, which was mainly used to keep his hands dry. However, the next day, the International Cricket Council (ICC) stated that the all-rounder, who returned from retirement, broke the code of conduct by using the spray without informing the umpire. Because of this, he was fined 25 percent of the match fee.
Former Australian cricketer Brad Hogg tweeted his views on the matter after giving it some thought. Hogg thought Moeen's 25% fine was excessive since he could have placed the drying agent to his finger indoors and then returned to the pitch.
Sharing a picture of Moeen's finger injury on Twitter, the former left-arm wrist spinner said, “25% fine for this is a bit of 'overspin' on the issue when you know Moeen was not using it for any other purpose than to prevent his blister getting worse! He could have left the ground repeatedly disguising the spray but did it openly. Fair play given the finger.”
Earlier, India's left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja also had to pay a fine for such reasons. Jadeja used ointment on his finger during the Nagpur Test against Australia in February this year. Even then, such a decision was criticized.