Bangladesh eyeing ICC intervention after official complaint against umpiring in Durban Test
Bangladesh are set to lodge an official complaint to the ICC after alleging questionable decision-making from the South African umpires in their heavy defeat in the first Test in Durban. The visitors are eyeing an intervention from the governing body and a sooner reversion to neutral umpires in international cricket.
The ICC had gone back to home-based match officials for all formats as one of the interim measures to curb the potential effects of Covid-19. Limiting air travel and employing umpires based at close-in distances, the apex body felt, is one way to ensure no viral breach of the bio-secure bubbles in place for matches.
But while the umpiring standards have stood largely fine despite the ICC decision, the Bangladesh set-up thinks it is time for reversion to neutral officials at the heels of the pandemic after, according to them, a number of straightforward decisions went South Africa’s way, especially in the third-innings of the Durban Test.
Also Read – ‘No Hiding From [Poor] Umpiring ‘ – Bangladesh Upset With Umpiring In SA V BAN Test
Bangladesh missed out on a number of decisions on the field in Durban.
Bangladesh opt for official complaint against Durban Test umpiring
South African skipper Dean Elgar was given not out following an LBW appeal despite a ball hitting his back leg in line with the three stumps. Convinced they have their man, the bowling side went for the DRS. But the ball-tracking technology showcased insignificant contact with the stumps and Erasmus’ decision was upheld.
Soon, Elgar’s opening partner Sarel Erwee was also given not out by Adrian Holdstock despite a plumb LBW appeal from the Bangladeshis, who immediately went for the DRS and saw Erwee’s departure back to the pavillion.
"Whole country v 11 boys" but honestly this is really shocking umpiring. #SAvBAN pic.twitter.com/hv5KfeF0JE
— EEMS (@NaeemahBenjamin) April 4, 2022
Bangladesh team director Khaled Mahmud said that had such calls, especially the Elgar one, gone their way, they wouldn’t have been chasing the difficult 274-run target and would’ve batted in much more manageable batting conditions for a much more manageable score.
“We have already lodged one complaint about the umpiring after the ODI series. The match referee [Andy Pycroft] had an argument with our manager Nafees Iqbal, but then we gave him a written complaint. We will lodge another official complaint about this Test match,” BCB cricket operations chief Jalal Yunus told ESPNcricinfo.
Apart from umpiring, Bangladesh are also hoping for ICC action against the sledging from South African players, especially as umpires ignored a number of their on-field complaints against home team’s inappropriate remarks.
“Sledging is quite normal, but the umpires didn’t seem to notice it. The umpiring in the match is not in our control, but I think the ICC should think about bringing back neutral umpires,” said Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque.
Former skipper and contemporary selector Habibul Bashar was also displeased with the umpiring in the game and echoed the call for ICC to revert to neutral umpires made by the team’s premier allrounder Shakib Al Hasan, who is missing the Test series due to personal reasons.