A day after umpiring blunders made headlines in the bilateral ODI series final between India women and Bangladesh women, the umpiring standards were under question in Emerging Asia Cup 2023 final between India and Pakistan A. In the massive run chase of 353, India lost two of their top-order batters to questionable decisions.
Out off no ball
The first one was of Sai Sudharsan. The left-handed batted mistimed a pull shot off a short ball from Arshad Iqbal. He was caught by wicketkeeper and captain Mohammad Haris. However, Iqbal had overstepped. Sudharsan waited in the middle and then on the boundary but even third umpire gave him out.
The incident took place in the ninth over of India's run chase at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. Sudharsan scored 29 runs from 28 balls including eight fours. He shared a 64-run opening partnership with Abhishek Sharma from 51 balls.
No bat involved
Later, Nikin Jose was given out caught behind by the umpire when the ball had clearly hit his thigh pad. Jose fell in the 13th over of the innings. He went for the cross-batted shot and missed the ball completely. He scored 11 runs from 15 balls including one four.
Not the first time for Sudharsan
However, this was not the first time Sudharsan had been given out off a new ball. In the group stage clash against Pakistan, Sudharsan lost his wicket off a no ball but survived as the replay showed that the bowler had overstepped.
Parag's spectacular catch
Earlier, in Pakistan A's innings, Riyan Parag's catch of Omair Yousuf was close as well. Initially, it felt like that it was a bump delivery. But Parag got his fingers underneath the ball and took a brilliant catch diving to his right. He dismissed Yousuf for a run-a-ball 35.
Pakistan A posted a daunting total of 352/8 on the board, the highest in a knockout encounter of Emerging Asia Cup history. First openers Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan's half-centuries got Pakistan A off to an ideal start. Then Tayyab Tahir's 71-ball 108 helped them post 352/8.
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