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With emotions flying around, bowlers getting hit for boundaries and couple of drop catches, things got pretty heat up on the third day in Faisalabad Test when some players, especially Shahid Afridi who got too verbal against the indians.

Fielding at gully, he regularly made forays close to the striker, especially when Shoaib was steaming in, and indulged in regular chattering.

Even when he got a chance to bowl, he continued the banter to such an extent that Pathan had to have a word with Rudi Koertzen, standing at the bowler’s end. Afridi was subsequently asked to tone it down by the umpire. At around the same time, Danish Kaneria, presumably as an aggressive gesture, threw the ball, at head height, back to the wicketkeeper, causing Dhoni to take evasive action. He too was spoken to by the umpires and Ranjan Madugalle, the match referee, summoned the two captains and let them off with a warning, telling them to maintain the spirit of the game.

Dravid didn’t appear too impressed with the goings on and hoped that the authorities would ensure that “the game doesn’t result in a shambles”. Now, what Afridi was saying to Pathan even Koertzen might not have understood and whether it was serious enough for Pathan to complain, one will never know. Kaneria’s case too nestles in a grey area and whether a bowler should be allowed to throw the ball back is a debate that can go on and on. But to be severe on the bowlers and fielders in this particular series, when they have had little to cheer, is being a bit too harsh on an already battered species.

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