'No one's here to play a charity league'

Bangladesh batter Litton Kumar Das has defended the controversial run-out of Pakistan's Salman Ali Agha in the second ODI in Dhaka, saying the dismissal did not violate the spirit of the game, reports bdnews24.com.

The incident involving Mehidy Hasan Miraz has revived the familiar debate between the laws of cricket and the spirit in which it is played.

Agha, who scored 64 off 62 balls, was backing up at the non-striker's end when Mohammad Rizwan drove the ball back towards him.

As Mehidy moved in to collect it, Agha remained out of his ground and appeared ready to hand the ball back before the Bangladesh all-rounder grabbed it first and broke the stumps.

The dismissal sparked a tense moment on the field, with Agha exchanging words with several Bangladesh players, including Mehidy.

As he walked back to the dressing room, Salman was also seen saying something, while Litton appeared to move towards him before being restrained by Rizwan.

Litton, however, rejected suggestions that Bangladesh had acted against the spirit of the game.

"First of all, no one came here to play a charity league. This is an international match… Since it's out according to the law, I don't see from any angle that sportsmanship was harmed or anything like that," he told T Sports after the match on Friday.

"Of course, everyone can have their own personal opinion. To us it seemed out… so it's out."

Speaking after the match, Agha said the run-out was within the laws but not in keeping with the spirit of the game.

"I think sportsman spirit has to be there. What he [Mehidy] has done is in the law. I think if he thinks it's right, it's right, but if you ask me my perspective, I would have done differently. I would have gone for sportsman spirit. We haven't done this [type of thing] previously, we would never do that in the future as well," Agha is quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.com.

He said he had not been trying to steal a run and believed the ball was effectively dead.

"Actually, the ball hit on my pad and then my bat. So I thought he can't get me run-out now, because the ball already hit on my pad and my bat.

"I was just trying to give him the ball back. I was not looking for the run or anything like that, but he already decided [to make the run-out]." At the post-match press conference, Agha was also asked about his exchange with Litton.

"I don't remember what I said to Litton, and I don't remember what he was saying either. I'm sure I didn't say anything nice, and he didn't say anything nice either. But it was just the heat of the moment, we're fine now."