Pakistan have asked match referee Neeyamur Rashid to look again at the decision-making around Bangladesh’s late DRS referral in Monday’s deciding ODI in Mirpur. The tourists believe the hosts only opted for the review once a replay had been shown on the Shere Bangla Stadium’s big screen – something the playing conditions are designed to prevent.
The incident came off the penultimate ball. Pakistan needed 12 from two; Rishad Hossain tossed one up on leg stump and it spun further down the leg side. Umpire Kumar Dharmasena signalled wide straight away.
At that point most people in the ground – and many watching on television – assumed that was that. A wide, 11 required, one ball to come. Then, after a brief huddle, Bangladesh pointed to the third umpire.
Under ICC regulations, a side has “no more than 15 seconds” to lodge a review and must do so before any broadcast replay is visible to the players. The timing is hard to verify because, rather unhelpfully, no on-screen timer appeared on the feed. Pakistan argue the replay – which clearly showed the ball passing Shaheen Shah Afridi’s bat – had already flashed up.
A PCB official, speaking on background, said the team’s complaint is straightforward: “Either the review was taken outside the 15-second window, or it was taken after seeing extra information. Both are against the protocol.”
Hawk-Eye subsequently revealed a spike as the ball went past the toe of Afridi’s bat. That meant two things: Bangladesh lost the review, yet the wide call was reversed. With the target still 12 but now a legal delivery having been bowled, Afridi had only one ball left. He charged, missed, was stumped, and Bangladesh wrapped up an 11-run win and the series 2-1. A frustrated Afridi swung his bat over the stumps before trudging off.
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto defended his team’s actions. “We felt there was a chance, so we took it. The umpires said it was within time,” he told local reporters.
Former Pakistan opener Bazid Khan, on commentary, was less convinced. “If the replay is on the screen, the opportunity to influence a review is obvious. The protocol exists for a reason,” he said moments after the decision.
It is the second match in a row where Pakistan feel key calls have gone against them. In the second ODI Salman Agha was run-out after stepping out of his crease to hand the ball back to Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Words were exchanged, the all-rounder hurled his gloves, and he was later fined 50 per cent of his match fee and given a demerit point. Mehidy was docked 20 per cent.
For now, the PCB have asked at least for an acknowledgement that procedures were not followed to the letter. Whether the match referee – or indeed the ICC – issues anything more than a clarification remains to be seen. What will not change is the result: Bangladesh, who had been 1-0 down, have their first bilateral home series victory over Pakistan since 2015.
Small margins, then, deciding big matches. Pakistan fly home still stewing over two balls; Bangladesh celebrate a resilient comeback. And the rest of us are left hoping the next time technology steps in, everyone remembers the stopwatch.
