Space For Rent

Space For Rent
Saturday, March 21, 2015, Chaitra 7, 1421 BS, Jamadi ul Awwal 29, 1436 Hijr


BD will defeat India, if it is played again: Ricky Ponting
Sports Reporter
Published : Saturday, 21 March, 2015,  Time : 12:00 AM,  View Count : 38
All the past is not gone forever. And what happened in the Bangladesh-India quarter-final of World Cup 2015 can never be omitted. The unforgettable fact is controversial umpiring in the match.
The umpires in the match gave controversial decisions on three occasions against Bangladesh. The major one was the declaration of a delivery of Rubel as a no-ball without taking any time to talk with the leg umpire.
Rohit Sharma was caught at deep mid-wicket while trying a big hit from a Rubel full-toss. But the umpire Ian Gould called it a no-ball saying  that it was above waist high. But the television replays showed that the ball was on its way down.
Rohit was on 90 and getting the opportunity he made 147 that took away the match from Bangladesh. In the innings break former Indian skipper Rahul Dravid said that India had taken the 260 score to 303 and Rohit's century was the key."
Another Indian batsmen VVS Laxman Tweeted "Bad decision from Gould, was definitely not above the waist. Lucky-break for Rohit. This can be a difference in getting extra 20 runs."
Not only these two but also many more former cricketers are also criticising this decision. In an interview on espncricinfo Ajit Agarkar, Martin Crowe and Michael Holding unanimously agreed that the umpire made an error in calling the ball which got Rohit Sharma out on 90 a no-ball  and said, 'It wasn't a no-ball."
Agarkar also said, "If Rohit got out, India may not score 300 up."
The most shocking fact was Rubel's fourth ball of the 40th over and ICC omitted the ball from the Hawk-Eye preview of the innings on their website. You can cheek it on the following link- 'http://www.icc-cricket.com/cricket-world-cup/match/cwc-2015/44'
Another one was the decision on Riana's lbw. Nine times out of 10, any umpire would have given Suresh Raina lbw when Mashrafe appealed. Bangladesh rightly went for the review and the ball was pitched just 1mm outside the leg stump for which the batsman escaped. But, to any naked eye, it would have seemed out. But third umpire Steve Davis gave it not out and Raina scored 65.
Finally, when the top scorer of Bangladesh in this World Cup, Mahmudullah was trying to put one ball over the fence, Dhawan caught it right at the ropes and his foot seemed to touch the boundary demarcation. The third umpire decided in favour of the Indians and we all know that umpire's decision is final.
Bangladesh was a victim of controversial umpiring or on fans words 'Biased Umpiring'- it may seemed a lame excuse after losing the match as Bangladesh lost by 109 runs . But the fact is that there is far difference between chasing 303 and 260.
When the match was under the control of Bangladesh Sourav Ganguly was the commentator and he said, "250 will be a fighting score on that wicket."  His comment proved what difference created the error in umpiring.
It was biasness or just a mistake the umpires know it better but Ricky Ponting the former Australian skipper said, "If the match will be played again legally, Bangladesh will defeat India."
The controversial umpiring robbed the dream of 160 million Bangladeshi fans. Bangladesh lost nothing but to the fans cricket lost its gentlemanship. And the protesting and cricket loving Tigers' fans will agree with the words of their beloved skipper Mashrafe that he told his father with crying eyes -"Believe me father, swear of the God we did not loss. They made us defeated. We lost to money and power."











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