Harbhajan Singh has expressed his dissatisfaction with the umpiring decisions and existing rules following Pakistan's narrow loss to South Africa in the ICC World Cup 2023. He called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to reconsider the 'umpire's call' rule to enhance the game's quality.
The contentious moment arose when the third umpire upheld the on-field decision, even after Pakistan opted for the Decision Review System (DRS) against Tabraiz Shamsi. Despite the ball-tracking technology indicating a possible dismissal, the decision remained unchanged. Consequently, Shamsi, along with Keshav Maharaj, added crucial runs, tipping the match in South Africa's favour.
Harbhajan, voicing his opinion on the matter, stated, “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,” on his X account.
The cricketing world was treated to a nail-biting contest between Pakistan and South Africa on October 27, Friday, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. South Africa managed to clinch a victory by a single wicket in this exhilarating face-off.
Electing to bat, Pakistan posted a competitive total of 270 runs in 46.4 overs, with notable contributions from Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel. South Africa, in their response, faced several challenges but eventually achieved the target in 47.2 overs. Aiden Markram's brilliant 91 runs set the tone for South Africa. However, the match's climax saw the Proteas precariously placed at 260/9, only for Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi to steer their team to victory.
This loss marked a historic low for Pakistan, as it's the first time they've suffered four consecutive defeats in World Cup history. The victory propelled South Africa to the top of the points table, surpassing India, while Pakistan slid to the sixth position with just four points. Pakistan is set to play against Bangladesh on October 31, and South Africa will challenge New Zealand on November 1.
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