CALCUTTA, Dec. 28, Reuter: ‘West Indies Captain Viv Richards was involved in a heated exchange with an umpire over a rejected appeal for a catch in the third test against India on Monday.

‘The dramas unfold as India built a strong reply to the touring team’s first innings score of 530 for five declared. By the close of the third day they had Made 304 for three.

Richie Richardson claimed a catch ‘at second slip from an edged shot by Mohammad Zaharuddin, but umpire Piloo reporter turned down the appeal.

He later told reporters he had consulted his colleague Ram Babu Gupta before deciding that the shot, off Courtney Walsh’s bowling, had gone to Richardson first bounce,

Play stopped for a few minutes as Richards exchanged angry words with reporter and the row between the two, started up again after the next Walsh delivery when reporter turned down a leg before appeal.

‘Azharuddin, on 21 at the time, kept out of the argument. He was unbeaten on 60 at the close.

His Captain Dilip Vengsarkar said later that he was not in a position to discuss the Richards Reporter confrontation, but a senior Indian cricket official, who did not want to be named, told Reuters: “Richards abused Reporter. Richards was then warned by reporter and colleague Ram Babu Gupta. But they did not ask for an apology”.

Richards and team manager Jackie Hendriks were not immediately available for comment.

Article extracted from this publication >> January 1, 1988