IND vs ENG: 'If you can't play short ball, go play tennis or golf' - Gavaskar slams ICC's concussion substitute rule

Cricketer-turned-expert Sunil Gavaskar has slammed the International Cricket Council (ICC)'s current concussion substitute rule, suggesting it lacks consistency and fairness. The former Indian opening batter said this statement during the ongoing fourth Old Trafford Test between India and England. Gavaskar argued that if concussion substitutes are allowed, there should also be a policy for injury replacements, especially in genuine cases, as it happened to Rishabh Pant on Day one of the fourth Test.

The southpaw fractured his right foot, and ICC's rule did not allow the player to be replaced by another player.

"I have always felt that you are giving a like-for-like substitute for incompetence," Gavaskar told Sony Sports.

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"If you are not good enough to play short-pitched bowling, don't play Test cricket; go and play tennis or golf. You are giving a substitute for somebody who gets hit because he can't handle it." Despite being injured while batting, Rishabh Pant returned to bat and scored a brave fifty in India's first innings total of 358. However, his continuous participation in the Test and the series is highly unlikely.

Sunil Gavaskar & Vaughan wants ICC review injury policy

Gavaskar slammed the ICC and asked a scathing question on why a concussion substitute is permitted for a head injury but not for an obvious injury.

"Here, it is a clear injury. There has to be a substitute. Let an independent committee, including medical experts, be formed to make decisions," he said.

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Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan echoed Gavaskar's comments and called for rule tweaks to protect the quality of the game.

"If a footballer breaks a leg early in a match, they can be substituted. Why should cricket be any different?" Vaughan said. Pant has a broken foot. He can't play again in a match or the next one. We need a clear protocol for like-for-like replacements in such situations."

With such strong cricket personalities speaking about the ICC's concussion rule and being unfair to the injury replacement rule, the debate is only going to get more steam.