The Pakistan team director, Mohammad Hafeez, attributed his team’s 79-run loss to Australia in the second Test at the MCG to “unforced errors” including “inconsistent umpiring” and “the curse of technology.”
Hafeez was particularly dissatisfied with the umpire’s call system, which was intended to grant the on-field umpire the presumption that the decision was accurate, provided that it did not constitute an error. Although the system has been widely acknowledged for its merits, Hafeez is not the first prominent cricketer to raise doubts about it. Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne are two individuals who have expressed dissent towards the umpire’s decision.
In the sport of cricket, continual development is possible. “The umpire’s decision sows doubt that it fundamentally alters the game,” Hafeez reasoned. “It penalizes one team while benefiting the other.” It is necessary to be modified. A ball that encounters the stumps consistently ought to be deemed out. Every time the ball strikes the supports, it is discharged. One might question the feasibility of a circumstance in which a ball strikes the wickets but remains out due to the decision of the umpire. This necessitates examination.”
While Pakistan did endure a number of unfavorable decisions from umpires during the Boxing Day Test, the dismissal of Mitchell Marsh would have arguably been the most painful. The Australian batsman, who amassed 96 runs and surpassed the visitors’ target, was on 25 when a Hasan Ali delivery was considered to have clipped the off-stump and subsequently declared “not out” by the DRS, which corresponded with the decision made on the field.
“We made some mistakes as a team and we will address those things but at the same time, I believe inconsistent umpiring and the curse of technology gave a result which should have been different. I feel like these are the areas that need to be addressed. Sometimes it feels like it’s a technology show, and that we aren’t really playing cricket. We played better cricket as a team and we’re proud of that,” Hafeez opined.
Despite the bowling and fielding errors that Hafeez subsequently identified, he believed that Pakistan was the “better” team on exhibit and ought to have advanced to victory in the Test match.
“We prepared ourselves very well. The way the team had the courage to take this game in the best possible way. If I sum up the game, the Pakistan team played better than the other team in general. Our batting intent was better, and while bowling, we were hitting the right areas.
“This game we were very close but we couldn’t win. We made some mistakes, conceding 52 extras which really hurt us. And then crumbling from 124 for 1 to lose five main batters, that was a crucial moment we couldn’t win in the game. And then Australia was 16/4, we dropped a couple of catches that should have been taken. There were certain moments in the game we couldn’t win. If we had taken our chances and won those crucial moments, perhaps this match would have ended earlier and we would have won. But this is the way the game goes; if you make a mistake this game can hurt you.
“I would like to congratulate Australia on a series win for sure they play good cricket. But as a team, I’m really proud of the fact that the Pakistan team showed great courage, great intent and played with great passion.”
