(AP Photo)
Bangladesh batsman Tawhid Hridoy expressed dissatisfaction with the on-field umpire’s decision and suggested that the outcome might have been different had Mahmudullah not been given out against South Africa.
Bangladesh batsman Tawhid Hridoy remarked that the outcome might have favored them had the umpire not ruled Mahmudullah out during the 17th over of their chase in the T20 World Cup Group D match against South Africa at the Nassau Cricket County Stadium in New York on Monday.
During the second ball of the 17th over in Bangladesh’s chase, South African pacer Ottneil Baartman delivered a fuller-length ball that swung in and struck Mahmuddullah on the pads. While it seemed that the ball might slide down the leg side from a certain angle, umpire Sam Nogajski had a different perspective and adjudged Mahmuddullah out, raising his finger.
Mahmudullah promptly opted for a review, and replays indicated that the ball would have missed the stumps by a considerable margin. The decision was overturned, but Bangladesh incurred the loss of four additional runs.
Per game regulations, once the umpire raises their finger, the ball is deemed “dead,” and this status persists even if the decision is reversed via DRS. Bangladesh ultimately fell short in the match by precisely four runs, as South Africa effectively defended their total of 113—the fourth-lowest score against a full member team.
“To be honest that was not a good call for us in such a tight match. In my point of view, the umpire gave that out but it was pretty hard on us. Those four runs could have changed the match scenario,” Hridoy told reporters following the game.
Hridoy, who contributed 37 runs from 34 deliveries, was dismissed LBW off a delivery from Kagiso Rabada. Replays suggested that the ball marginally grazed the leg stump.
‘There are room for improvements’: Towhid Hridoy
When questioned about the dead ball regulations regardless of the DRS decision, Hridoy commented:”The laws are not in my hands. In that time those four runs were really important. Umpires can make a call and they are human too and can make mistakes. They also didn’t give wides which were wides on a few occasions. In this kind of venue where low-scoring matches are taking place, one or two runs are a big thing. I think those four runs or two wides are close calls and I was given out on umpire’s call and there are room for improvements,” he said.
Hridoy conceded that his dismissal in the opening delivery of the 18th over proved to be a pivotal moment in the match.”From that position, I should have finished the match. It’s difficult for new batsmen to adjust to the conditions. In that position, I should have finished the match,” he said.
“Here, the outfield is also slow. I think if we show the intent from a batting point of view, it will be better. If you saw the last couple of matches here, it’s always low scoring and I think its a bit challenging for batsmen, every batsman here is struggling a bit here, so I think we’ll overcome.
