Pakistan world cup 2023 In their match against South Africa, they lost by one wicket in a thrilling encounter. With this, all the hopes of Pakistan of making it to the semi-finals were dashed. Former spinner of Team India Harbhajan Singh Believes that Pakistan lost this close match due to poor umpiring and rules. Pakistan tried its best to stop the Proteas team chasing 271 runs with their best bowling attack. But they did not succeed.
Keshav Maharaj hit the winning four
Aiden Markram’s inning of 91 runs and Keshav Maharaj’s boundary forced Pakistan to defeat in the 48th over. This match is in discussion for another reason. When Tabrez Shamsi was not given out by the on-field umpire after a close LBW appeal. At that time South Africa needed 8 runs to win and this was the last wicket.
Even DRS did not work
Pakistani team took the help of DRS, but the TV umpire did not give the decision and termed it as umpire calls. Commenting on this situation, former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh used very strong words criticizing the poor umpiring. He also said that Pakistan had to lose this match due to poor umpiring and bad rules of ICC.
Harbhajan said this
Harbhajan wrote on Twitter, ‘Pakistan had to pay the price for bad umpiring and bad rules in this game… ICC should change this rule… If the ball hits the stump, it is out. It doesn’t matter whether the on-field umpire gave out or not out… otherwise what is the use of technology?
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??? @TheRealPCB vs #SouthAfrica #worldcup
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 27, 2023
Graeme Smith expressed his views
However, Harbhajan’s words did not go down well with former South African captain Graeme Smith. He immediately made reference to Rassie van der Dussen’s LBW out. He wrote on X that Bhajji, I too feel the same way as you on the umpire’s call, but South Africa must have felt the same when Rassie van der Dussen was out.
Brother, @harbhajan_singh I feel the same as you on umpires call, but @Rassie72 and South Africa can have the same feeling.? https://t.co/lcTvm8zXD1
— Graeme Smith (@GraemeSmith49) October 27, 2023
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 pic.twitter.com/FMZCZ5MTY2
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 27, 2023
Rassie van der Dussen also a victim of bad umpiring
Talking about Dussen, Rassie Van der Dussen was declared out LBW after Usama Mir’s ball hit the pad during the 19th over. This batsman also took the help of DRS, the decision came due to the umpire’s call and Rasi had to go out. Harbhajan also shared his views on Van der Dussen’s dismissal and said that the batsman was not out.
Rules are made to protect the umpire
The former Indian spinner said that the technology is being used to protect the umpire rather than the batsman. According to me he was not out. But the technology was there to give him out because the umpire had given him out. Otherwise the umpire would feel bad for the wrong decision. He saved the umpire there and not the player who could have won the game.
Pakistan out of the race for semi-finals
The win took South Africa to the top of the table with 10 points from five wins in six matches. However, after starting the tournament with two consecutive wins, Pakistan has faced four consecutive defeats. And Pakistan is almost out of the race for the semi-finals. They have four points and if they want to reach the semi-finals, they will have to depend on the results of other teams.