Indian cricket skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was offered an honorary doctorate in law by a UK university in recognition of his “genuine or genius” performance on the cricket field.

Dhoni was awarded an honorary doctorate by De Montfort University after the conclusion of a Twenty20 practice match against Leicestershire in August 2011.

Dhoni was praised for his exemplary leadership quality and achievements before he became an Honorary Doctor of Letters.

But, has he now made fool of himself in the CB Series match played between Australia vs. India 7th ODI at Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane on 19 February, 2012?  Knowing fully well that D. Hussey had reached the stickers-end safe, Dhoni aggressively raised his finger and forcefully demanded OUT. 

Since there was no problem with both the Australian batboys at that point of time, the field umpires refused  to raise their finger in order to appease Indians there as well in India. Quickly, Indian review was requested by Indians and matter was passed on to the third umpire.

Possibly, taking some cue from Dhoni’s desperate claim for a wicket, the third up umpire fanatically declared OUT, although the review-hot -spot they opened for the public view clearly showed that none was OUT. However, the fielder umpired s took the matter further and brought back to the field Hussey who had already almost returned to pavilion and Hussey resumed his runs making beyond 50 plus. .

One suspects if there was an “understanding” between India/ICC and the third umpire to help India when required.  If so what are the terms and conditions. Even in Pak-England ODIs, the third umpire supports UK.  That is crude.

The grounds for the decision to take such an action against any guilty captain were laid at the ICC's annual conference in Hong Kong last year where harsher penalties were called for against teams failing to meet their over-rate targets.

MS Dhoni has been suspended for one ODI and India fined for the team's second over-rate breach in ODIs in less than a year. India were found to be two overs short during their 110-run defeat against Australia in Brisbane, after time allowances were taken into consideration.

Match referee Andy Pycroft also fined Dhoni 40% of his match fee and the team's other players were fined 20% each. This was India's second over-rate breach this tour. Dhoni was suspended from the Adelaide Test earlier this year for a slow over-rate in the previous game in Perth

The on-field umpires Steve Davies and Billy Bowden, third umpire Bruce Oxenford and fourth umpire Paul Reiffel laid the charge, to which Dhoni plead guilty and accepted the suspension. The latest suspension is a consequence of two "minor" over-rate offences in ODIs within a year- the first one being during the 2011 World Cup final in Mumbai. 

Did Dhoni’s make a deliberate crime to delay the match to generate tension and confusion among the batboys, resulting in early wickets?  This is just like rains spoiling the concentration of the batboys. Dhoni also acknowledged that he had been kept informed of the position regarding over-rates on a regular basis throughout the match

Dhoni and Indian team should have known they are way below over rate and should have shown some urgency. Even the commentators were repeatedly talking about it. Indian team and BBCI could be rich but I am sorry to say they are not above rules. Before penalizing Dhoni the time wasted for no fault of India team was reviewed. I know it does not matter for Dhoni and Indian team members that their match fee was reduced but they should have known Dhoni was penalized for similar offence earlier also.

How can he bowl 50 overs in time when he was given players who take half an hour to move from Extracover to Silly mid-off. Initially Aussies put him onto the frying pan and now ICC has pushed him into the fire. 

Clearly, there is something wrong with the Indian team management.

Clearly, Indian captain tried to deceive the umpires. It would be fair enough if Dhoni demands a wicket when it is real and undoubtedly. And his word should have carried the required weight. But he has misused his hon. doctorate. 

In this case, the third umpire played pro-India mischief. Third umpire team should be expanded to include some more members so as to make correct analysis and decisions about OUT/LBW, etc.

Hon. Doctorates are free and exchanged among nations as part of mutual appeasement. Did the UK on special request from India, offered a hon. Doctorate to Dhoni with this cynical context?

Is it possible that Dhoni, an hon. UK law doctor could be perceived to be guilty of apparent misjudgment? Dhoni could be viewed to have failed to live up the expectation of the public, and tried to mislead the public with his false claim for a wicket as well as his repeated slow over tactics to destabilize the opponent batboys though bad conduct for a lack of concentration. He has misguided the third umpire to declare OUT. . .

Should Dhoni return the hon. doctorate in law back to UK or to England team? India could advise him to surrender it to UK and collect one from an Indian university. 

The argument that no judge is genuine, including those at the ICJ in The Hague is not appropriate as it is only an attempt to mock at jurisprudence itself.

About the writer:

Dr. Abdul Ruff, Specialist on State Terrorism; Educationalist; Chancellor-Founder of Centor for International Affairs(CIA); Independent Analyst; Chronicler of Foreign occupations & Freedom movements (Palestine, Kashmir, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Xinjiang, Chechnya, etc); Anti-Muslimism and anti-Islamism are more dangerous than "terrorism" Anti-Islamic forces & terrorists are using criminal elements for terrorizing the world and they in disguise are harming genuine interests of ordinary Muslims. Global media today, even in Muslim nations, are controlled by CIA & other anti-Islamic agencies. Former university Teacher;/website:abdulruff.wordpress.com.