May 17, 2008	Saturday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 11, 1429

NEW DELHI, May 16: Delhi Daredevils captain Virender Sehwag panned his Deccan Chargers counterpart Adam Gilchrist for casting aspersions on Mohammad Asif’s injury, which forced the pacer to leave the field midway before returning for the final phase of the proceedings.

After his side sunk to their eighth defeat in the tournament, Gilchrist took a jibe at Asif’s injury and said it was unfair that Delhi fielded a couple of substitutes. “This is for the first time I saw so many substitute fielders taking so many catches. I mean you see the bowler bowling and going off to come back, bowl again and again going off. I mean it’s for the umpires to see,” a visibly disgruntled Gilchrist said in the post-match press conference.

Shoaib Malik replaced Asif in the field, while AB de Villiers came in place of Gautam Gambhir, who had injured his knee while batting.

Gilchrist, however, was not happy with Asif’s on-and-off presence in the field and said, “I think I should express my concern. If a bowler’s fit enough to bowl, he’s fit enough to field.”

Clearly not amused with Gilchrist casting aspersion on one of his bowlers, Sehwag said the Australian should check the rulebook before making any comment. “I think if umpires did not have any problems, Gilchrist too should not have any. I mean he can see the rulebook, which clearly says a bowler can go out as many times as needed in case of external injury. Asif was injured while fielding,” Sehwag said. “It was an external injury (Asif split webbing on his hand) and when blood spills, umpires allow you to go off and return. He can check the rulebook,” explained Sehwag.—Agencies