T20 World Cup match against South Africa was lost due to dead ball rule, Bangladesh blames umpire, ICC

T20 World Cup match against South Africa was lost due to dead ball rule, Bangladesh blames umpire, ICC

Bangladesh batter Tawhid Hridoy blamed the umpire's decision for the match result not being in their favor.

Bangladesh lost by four runs against South Africa at the Nassau Cricket County Stadium in New York on Monday. The Bangladesh batter Tawhid Hridoy replied to the media if the on-field umpire had not given out Mahmuduallah in the 17^th over of their chase in a T20 World Cup group D match against South Africa.

In the second delivery ball of the 17th over in Bangladesh’s run-chasing, South Africa fast bowler Ottneil Baartman’s fuller length delivery swung in to hit Mahmuddullah on the pads. From the layman’s perspective, it felt like the ball would roll down the leg side as per the angle in which the bowl was released but umpire Sam Nogajski had a different opinion and "the umpire raised his finger to dismiss the batsman.

As soon as Mahmudullah saw the ball heading towards him, he asked for the review to be taken. Other replays clearly showed that had the ball hit the pitch the stumps would have been missed by a considerable margin. In this particular case, the decision was reversed but Bangladesh lost four additional runs.

The game laws state that the ball is dead when the umpire lifts his finger and continues to be dead if the decision is reversed through DRS. Bangladesh were defeated by four runs exactly though South Africa successfully managed to defend 113— the fourth smallest total to be posted against a full member.

Read Also: South Africa beats Bangladesh for their third consecutive win in T20 World Cup 2024

“Honestly, that was not a good call for us in such a close match,” Hridoy said adding, “In my opinion, the umpire has given it out but it was tough on us. Had we got those four runs, the match scenario could have been different.”

Hridoy, who got 37 off 34, was given out LBW off a Kagiso Rabada delivery where there was just the soft signal of the ball clipping the leg stump.

Improvements are needed: Hridoy

When asked about the dead ball laws irrespective of the DRS outcome, Hridoy said: “The laws are not in my hands. In that time those four runs were really important. Umpires can make a call and they are human too and can make mistakes. They also didn’t give wides which were wides on a few occasions. In this kind of venue where low-scoring matches are taking place, one or two runs is a big thing,” He said.

After getting bowled out with the first ball of the 18th over Hridoy felt it was a match-changing moment. From that position he should have finished the match Usually it is very difficult for new batsmen to get used to the pitch conditions As far as he was concerned he should have finished the match.

Here also the outfield is slow. I believe from batting point of view if we have the intent, it will be good. If you watched the last couple of matches here, its always close enough and I think its a bit difficult for batsmen, every batsman here is struggling a bit here, so I think we will come through.

Bangladesh, currently on two points in as many games, will play against the Netherlands next.