MELBOURNE: Pakistan Cricket Team Director Mohammad Hafeez revealed his conversation with wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan, following the latter’s debated dismissal in the second Test against Australia.
Australian captain Pat Cummins bowled a sharp-rising delivery to Mohammad Rizwan, followed by an appeal for a caught behind.
The on-field umpire turned down Australia’s appeal but their captain Cummins opted to challenge the decision as he believed that Mohammad Rizwan may have gloved the ball.
TV Umpire Richard Illingworth thoroughly analyzed the appeal from different camera angles and was later convinced by the spike that appeared when the ball passed by Rizwan’s wristband and asked the on-field umpire to revert his decision.
The HotSpot showed no mark of contact as Rizwan looked away from the ball at the last second.
Mohammad Rizwan, however, appeared confident that he did not glove the ball and expressed his frustration with the TV Umpire’s decision before walking back to the pavilion in disappointment.
Wicket 250 for Pat Cummins! 🎉
The third umpire decided the ball flicked Mohammad Rizwan's sweatband on the way through. #MilestoneMoment | @nrmainsurance | #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/vTuDL5DmNB
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 29, 2023
Pakistan’s hopes of pulling off a record victory were all lying on Rizwan’s shoulder, who was unbeaten on 35 with the touring side needing a further 98 runs.
Meanwhile, Pakistan team’s Director Mohammad Hafeez at the post-match conference brought his conversation with Mohammad Rizwan to the limelight and echoed the latter’s stance.
“I spoke to Rizwan, and I believe he is a very honest person. He told me that the ball did not touch anywhere near the gloves, and there should be conclusive evidence to overturn the decision of the on-field umpire,” stated Hafeez.
“Based on what I know, the umpire gave it not out, and there was no conclusive evidence for the decision to be overturned. I don’t know what more to say. In this instance, the technology turned out to be a curse rather than something helpful,” he added.
It is worth mentioning here that Rizwan’s dismissal sparked a match-defining collapse as Pakistan slipped from 219/5 to 237 all out and thus lost the match by 70 runs against Australia, who now lead the three-match series 2-0.
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