'Bad Umpiring Cost Pakistan': Harbhajan Singh Blasts Controversial Rule, South Africa Legend Responds With a Question

South Africa and Pakistan produced a thriller of a contest when the two teams met at the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in Chennai on Saturday.

Chasing 271, South Africa slipped from a comfortable spot as Pakistan launched a late comeback to push the contest into the death overs.

The South African team went on to win the match by one wicket and thus ending their 24-year wait for an ODI world cup win over Pakistan. However, the contest was marred by debatable umpiring decisions which have stirred a storm on social media.

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Several users have been blaming the umpiring calls for Pakistan’s defeat but South Africa were also on the receiving of one such debatable decision that also could’ve cost them dearly.

South Africa needed 9 runs to win and had just a wicket in hand when Haris Rauf sent one down the leg-side to Tabraiz Shamsi who attempted to play it fine. An appeal followed but the on-field umpire called it as wide and Ultra-edge showed a spike when the ball passed the bat.

A delivery later, the on-field turned down a loud appeal for LBW against Shamsi which Pakistan reviewed. And the on-field call was upheld as the tracker predicted ball would just about graze the leg-stump.

India spin legend Harbhajan Singh blamed ‘bad umpiring’ and ‘bad rules’ cost Pakistan the game and suggested ICC to change the ‘umpire’s call rule’ that saved Shamsi.

“Bad umpiring and bad rules cost Pakistan this game.. @ICC should change this rule .. if the ball is hitting the stump that’s out whether umpire gave out or not out doesn’t matter.. otherwise what is the use of technology??? @TheRealPCB vs #SouthAfrica #worldcup,” Harbhajan posted on X (formerly Twitter).

South Africa batting legend Graeme Smith said while he agrees with Harbhajan on the ‘umpire’s call’, he did remind him that South Africa also suffered due to the rule.

“Bhajji, @harbhajan_singh I feel the same as you on umpires call, but @Rassie72 and South Africa can have the same feeling.?” Smith responded to Harbhajan’s assesment.

Smith was pointing out to Rassie van der Dussen’s dismissal who reviewed an LBW call given against him but to not avail as it was also upheld because of umpire’s call.

Harbhajan said he also agrees that Van der Dussen was not out and alleged that the technology saved the on-field umpire from embarrassment and not the batter who could’ve helped South Africa to easily chase down the total.

“He was not out according to me .. but tech was there to give him out as umpire gave him out.. otherwise umpire would hv (sic) looked bad for wrong decision.. they saved the umpire there not the player who could have won the game easily for SA,” the former India offspinner said.

With the win South Africa have taken the top spot on the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 points table having won five of their six matches so far in the competition.