Srinagar: Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh got involved in a heated debate on Social Media after posting that Bad Umpiring, Bad Rules cost Pakistan match vs South Africa.
The ‘umpire’s call’ law of cricket once again came into focus during the World Cup 2023 match between Pakistan and South Africa at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday.
First, it was South Africa, who were at the receiving end when Rassie van der Dussen was given out by the third umpire with DRS showing two ‘umpire’s call’ out of three. Then, Pakistan suffered a heartbreak as Tabraiz Shamsi survived a close LBW shout due to the not-out decision from the on-field umpire. This prompted former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh to launch a stringent criticism of the ‘umpire’s call’ laws.
“Bad umpiring and bad rules cost Pakistan this game.. @ICC should change this rule .. if the ball is hitting the stump that’s out whether umpire gave out or not out doesn’t matter.. otherwise what is the use of technology???” Harbhajan posted on X (Twitter) after Keshav Maharaj hit a boundary to seal a thrilling win for South Africa.
Earlier Umpire Paul Reiffel gave van der Dussen out in the 19th over of South Africa’s chase. He opted for a review. Ball tracking showed ‘umpire’s call’ on two parameters – the impact and the hitting. But because he was given out on the field, the third umpire was not allowed to change it.
The other side of the umpire’s call came into effect towards the end of the match. Shamsi was given not out on the field by umpire Alex Wharf. DRS showed the ball was clipping the stumps but because it was not certain that the ball would have definitely hit the stumps, the third umpire had to go with the umpire’s call, which was not out.
After his tweet on Shamsi’s DRS decision, former South Africa captain Graeme Smith pointed out that van der Dussen got the rough end of the ‘umpire’s call’ rule when he was given out. Harbhajan came up with two replies.
“This isn’t right .. either u use technology or stick to umpires decisions SIMPLE ! In the same game ball hitting the stump twice once given out and once not out ..what r you showing the whole world ? Who’s making the mistakes umpire or technology? Why hv them both ? Need to decide which one is right . UMPIRE OR TECHNOLOGY?” he said.
The former India cricketer, however, contradicted his own logic by saying that Dussen should have been given not out.
“He was not out according to me .. but tech was there to give him out as umpire gave him out.. otherwise umpire would hv looked bad for wrong decision.. they saved the umpire there not the player who could have won the game easily for SA.”