Sloppy umpiring creates controversy in BBPL

A sloppy decision by the on-field umpires, where they gave a wicket on a no-ball before revoking it two minutes later, led to controversy in the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League T20 Monday.

Cumilla Warriors batsman Bhanuka Rajapasksa was given out in the match against Dhaka Platoon, as he was caught at deep square-leg off a Wahab Riaz delivery. However, television replays showed that the Pakistani bowler had overstepped and a no-ball should be called. 

Meanwhile, Rajapakse had walked straight back to the pavilion of Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium and next batsman Yasir Ali Chowdhury had arrived in the middle. 

On-field umpires Gazi Sohel and Prageeth Rambukwella changed their mind after watching the TV replays, cancelled the dismissal and recalled Rajapaksa to the middle, much to the shock of the Platoon camp. 

Platoon opener Tamim Iqbal, backed by his team mates, was found speaking to the on-field umpires over the decision, while head coach Mohammad Salauddin looked dumbfounded at the dugout.

Photo: Md Manik/Dhaka Tribune  The game was interrupted for a couple of minutes as the umpires tried to calm the Platoon players and justify the decision of calling Rajapakse back to the middle. This raised the question of whether it is legal to call back a batsman once he leaves the arena after being declared as dismissed. 

BBPL T20 Technical Committee Chairman Raquibul Hasan said there was nothing wrong with the umpires calling the batsman back to bat.

“It is not a fact that the batsman had gone out of the field of play. The umpires can get a batsman back to the middle as long as the next ball has not been bowled, if they think it was a not out. But the on-field umpires should have been careful and should have stopped the batsman from leaving the field until they were sure,” former Bangladesh captain Raquibul explained. 

Rajapaksa was batting at 20 when he was “dismissed.” The right-handed batsman capitalized on the opportunity and scored an unbeaten 65-ball 96, with four boundaries and seven over-boundaries, as Cumilla Warriors posted 160/3 after 20 overs.

#Mahedi inspires #Platoon victory over #Warriors https://t.co/49eM64xXaY

— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) December 23, 2019

The 28-year old Sri Lankan, who made his international debut in October this year, thought he had received a divine reprieve and felt it was his duty to utilize such a blessing. 

"I was given out and I was standing out at the boundary line and the fourth umpire wanted to me to go to the dressing room. It was a God given chance and I wanted to utilize it to the maximum. I had taken my pads off, but they called me back to the crease," said Rajapaksa