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Pakistan’s head coach for the Australia tour, Mohammad Hafeez is unhappy with third umpire Richard Illingworth giving Mohammad Rizwan out without conclusive evidence on Day 4 of the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Hafeez feels that in Rizwan’s case when DRS went in Australia’s favour, the ‘technology turned out to be a curse’.
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Rizwan was dismissed at a crucial juncture. After Saud Shakeel's wicket, a crucial partnership was built between Agha Salman and wicketkeeper-batter Rizwan. Pat Cummins with the old ball did the trick for Australia again. A short ball targetted at the body troubled Rizwan. He tried to get his hands down in time but the ball hit his arm guard and seemed to brush the glove on the wrist on its way to Alex Carey.
The on-field umpire Michael Gough gave him not out and the Australian skipper referred it to the third umpire. After a minute, Illingworth adjudged him out. Rizwan was left stunned by the decision as he left the field shaking his head. He scored 35 runs from 62 balls. It was followed by a collapse as Pakistan got bowled out for 237 and lost the match by 79 runs.
In the post-match press conference, Hafeez revealed his conversation with Rizwan and questioned the umpire’s decision which led to Pakistan losing five wickets for 18 runs.
"I spoke to Rizwan, and I believe he is a very honest person. He told me that the ball did not touch anywhere near the gloves, and there should be conclusive evidence to overturn the decision of the on-field umpire. Based on what I know, the umpire gave it not out, and there was no conclusive evidence for the decision to be overturned. I don't know what more to say. In this instance, the technology turned out to be a curse rather than something helpful," Hafeez told the reporters in Melbourne.
Cummins bagged nine wickets in the game including a fifer in the fourth innings. Mitchell Starc was on song as well with a four-wicket haul in a relatively close encounter to extend Pakistan's wait for a Test win on Australian soil.
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