At the MCG, Yashasvi Jaiswal's dismissal became a topic of discussion as snicko or ultraedge showed no spike when the ball passed the bat but third umpire gave it out anyway. Then, at Newlands, Cape Town, Shan Masood became victim of what he believes is malfunction in hawkeye technology. Pakistan captain Masood was playing a sublime knock under pressure while following-on when it was cut-short by an lbw review that went in hosts South Africa's favour.
Masood who was angry as he walked back to the dressing room after getting dismissed for 145. He said that an outswinger was shown as an inswinger which left him baffled.
"It's simple. It was an outswinger. If you see the ball that I was beaten by, it jagged away a long way. I was beaten on the outside edge, and it was shown as an inswinger. I was baffled by that to be very honest. With the naked eye, you could see it felt like it was outside the line as well," Masood said after the 10-wicket defeat in Cape Town as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
"I just felt it was a different picture. I didn't get hit where Hawkeye was showing it to be hit. I was hit more on the outside of the leg than the inside; it shows it on the inside. That's not an inswinger. I was beaten by an outswinger and that's what the umpire thought as well, and that's all I can say to that," he added.
Masood's wicket was crucial as he held on to one end. Had the decision gone in Pakistan's way he would have helped his side post a bigger target on the board. Masood became Kwena Maphaka's only victim of the day. The southpaw hit 17 fours in his 145 off 251 balls. Pakistan posted 478 after South Africa enforced follow-on. The 35-year-old has left it on administrators to decide whether he was out or not.
"It's up to the administrators to see if that's a fair decision or not, but I certainly felt that technology didn't show the trajectory of how that ball was," he concluded.
Masood's major feat, comprehensive win for South Africa
Masood registered the second-highest score by a Pakistan batter in Tests against South Africa. However, it was not enough as the Proteas chased down the target in just 7.1 overs and 10 wickets in hand. Pakistan are currently eighth on the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 standings. They will face West Indies in the two-Test series at home.