Leicestershire lodge official complaint about Hampshire’s ‘extremely disappointing’ behaviour during County Championship fixture

The Running Foxes have complained about the visitors’ ‘extremely disappointing’ behaviour after the controversial dismissal of home batsman Hassan Azad yesterday, writes RICHARD RAE.

Azas was given out stumped in Leicestershire’s second innings after Hampshire wicket-keeper Lewis McManus knocked off the bails with his left hand while holding the ball in the air with his right hand appealing for a catch.

Hampshire skipper James Vince said: ‘Lewis is pretty down about how it looks but from his and our point of view we weren’t aware there was an issue until a few overs later.

‘We’re talking split seconds. Had we known instantly we would have called [Azad] back and knowing Lewis if he’d known exactly what he’d done he would have said something.’

Match referee Stuart Cummings spoke to Vince and his Leicestershire counterpart Colin Ackermann after the game and said a statement would be issued by the ECB in due course.

A spokesman for the club said Hampshire would be making no official comment at this stage.

Leicestershire head coach Paul Nixon said: ‘We were disappointed with what happened and we’ve spoken to the match referee. It’s something we don’t want to see in our game – I’ve never seen it before in all my years of cricket, and we’ll wait to see how the ECB handle it.’

Leicestershire released a statement earlier this afternoon.

It read: ‘During day three of the fixture, an incident occurred in relation to the stumping of Hassan Azad by the Hampshire wicketkeeper; Lewis McManus.

Leicestershire CCC Head Coach, Paul Nixon, had a discussion with the Match Referee, Stuart Cummings shortly after the incident occurred, to highlight and express the disappointment of the incident.

‘Leicestershire CCC has been in contact with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) already and are fully aware that the ECB is taking this matter very seriously.

‘Leicestershire CCC, CEO Sean Jarvis commented: ‘For everyone at Leicestershire, the behaviour displayed by Hampshire was extremely disappointing and has no place in the game.

‘I have written to the ECB following the completion of this fixture to express the concerns and disappointment of what happened.

‘I hope we can resolve this matter quickly and move on from the incident.’

Hampshire wrapped up a commanding victory - by an innings after 102 runs - after starting the fourth day needing just two wickets to win their opening Championship Group B encounter.