BPL 2019: Bizarre umpiring decision leaves Comilla Victorians baffled

The players were baffled and tried to convince the umpire but he was unmoved.

Published - 23 Jan 2019, 14:02 IST | Updated - 23 Jan 2019, 14:02 IST

2 Min Read

With the technological advancements in the game of cricket, the standard of decision making has been on the rise. While technology has obviously been helping the players and the umpires, the officials too, have enhanced their decision making. In the recent times, the DRS calls are often overturned and the decision stays with the on-field umpire’s call. Long story short – the umpiring standards are only getting better and better.

But a recent incident in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2019 will certainly bring the umpiring fraternity to shame. To be a little less harsh, it will certainly make a few chuckle. How often do we see a batsman hit the ball, and the umpire still calling it a wide? Well, this is exactly what happened.

In a recent fixture between the Dhaka Dynamites and the Comilla Victorians, the on-field umpire made a baffling call by clearly ignoring a thick inside edge. The action perspired in the 8th over of the Dhaka Dynamites innings. Mahidy Hasan was the bowler and on the fourth ball, he bowled a delivery wide outside the off-stump. The batsman Darwish Rasooli expanded his arms to fetch the ball that was drifting away for him.

He managed to get a thick inside edge, and the ball was chopped right into the ground. The ball bounced and went past the wicketkeeper, who then chased it down.

Much to everybody’s disbelief, the on-field umpire had his hands outstretched and he signalled a wide. The Comilla Victorians players looked totally baffled as they tried to convince the umpire that there was an inside edge. The umpire, unfazed by everything that the bowler, the fielders, and the wicketkeeper had to say, stood with his decision.

Luckily for the Victorians, the decision did not cost them too dearly. They managed to win the match eventually by 7 runs. Talking about the game, the Victorians batted first and posted a decent 153/8 on the board. Shamsur Rahman top-scored with 48, while Tamim Iqbal contributed with 34. In the run chase, the Dynamites could only manage 146/9 in their stipulated 20 overs. Even a quick 24-ball 46 from Andre Russell could not help them get over the line in the match.