Mohammad Hafeez believes ‘inconsistent umpiring’ and ‘technology curse’ cost Pakistan the Boxing Day Test

Pakistan Cricket Team. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

Pakistan team director Mohammad Hafeez attributed the team’s defeat against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to what he perceives as “inconsistent umpiring” and the “curse” of decision review technology. In the second Test, Pakistan lost by 79 runs, giving the hosts an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-game series.

During the 317-run chase, Pakistan needed 98 runs with five wickets in hand when Mohammad Rizwan was declared caught behind off the wristband of his glove after a DRS review from Pat Cummins. Initially given not out by umpire Michael Gough, the third umpire, Richard Illingworth, determined that there was conclusive evidence that the ball had come off the wristband, not the forearm as the batter had argued. However, Hafeez blamed the outcome on umpiring inconsistencies and the use of DRS technology.

“We made some mistakes as a team, we will take that, we will address those things, but at the same time I believe inconsistent umpiring and technology curse [has] really given us the result which should have been different,” Hafeez was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

“I feel like these are the areas that need to be addressed. I spoke to [Rizwan] and he’s a very honest person. He said he did not even feel that it touched anywhere near the gloves. And what we saw, there should be conclusive evidence to reverse the decision of the umpire. That’s what I know. The umpire gave it not out and there was no conclusive kind of evidence where the decision has to be turned over,” he added.

Contrarily, former ICC umpire Simon Taufel believes that the third umpire made the correct decision.

“For me, conclusive evidence was the ball on top of that wristband attached to the glove, with the spike [on Snicko],” Taufel said. “Very comfortable from where I’m sitting that Richard Illingworth the third umpire had conclusive evidence to overturn that decision,” Taufel spoke on Channel Seven’s broadcast after Rizwan’s dismissal.