Forgetting the rule-book

It is a volatile time in history, when the authorities are trying to assist the on-field umpires by the use of more efficient technology; the men-in-white are still getting it wrong. Though, this time the trouble is not with science but ignorance on the part of umpires to follow the rule-book. One cannot teach each and every cricket rule to technology. That’s why there are umpires to give their verdict after consulting it. This is the basic limitation of human created mind (the technology) and the hallmark of divine creation (the human brain).

At 10.45 am PST today at Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad, Steve Harmison’s first delivery of the 96th over of Pakistan’s innings to Inzamam-ul-Haq drove firmly back to the bowler. Harmison fielded and flung back at the stumps, the batsman took an instinctive evasive action and that led him to jump a little, so that his back foot came off the ground. An appeal was made and Darrel Hair, standing at square-leg, refereed to the third umpire. The third-umpire, Nadeem Ghauri, after viewing it from different angles declared the batsman run-out!

THE LAWS OF CRICKET 38.2 (2) states:
Batsman not Run out
A batsman is not out Run out if:
(a) he has been within his ground and has subsequently left it to avoid injury, when the wicket is put down."

Clearly, this was a poor case of referrer because if Hair knew his rules well then he would not have signaled it to Ghauri. Ironically, the third umpire, who got much more time to judge the event, trusted his eyes more than his brain. The purpose of third umpire is more than just pressing the red or green button. It is very strange that all the three umpires forgot the rule book and put an end to a magnificent innings which could have took Pakistan beyond 500-run mark.

Two other dismissals, both preceding Inzamam’s one – of Yousuf and Afridi - were also poor umpiring decisions. Afridi’s dismissal required replay assistance which was not used.

Well, one remembers the same of kind incident happened almost 11 years ago in a Test match at Napier between Sri Lanka-New Zealand. Dulip Samaraweera had regained his ground after attempting for a run, but Ken Rutherford’s, New Zealand captain, throw fired straight at the stumps and Samaraweera’s feet. The batsman had no choice but to jump into the air to avoid being hit on the toes. Replays showed him run out with both feet about 10-inches in the air. The umpires involved in that case were Doug Cowie (NZ – square leg umpire) and Evan Watkin (NZ - tv umpire).