Towhid Hridoy Criticizes Umpiring After Bangladesh’s Close 4-Run Defeat to South Africa

June 11, 2024 0 574

Towhid Hridoy criticized the umpires after Bangladesh’s narrow four-run loss to South Africa, pointing out several controversial decisions, including an incorrect out call and missed wides.

Bangladesh suffered a close four-run defeat to South Africa at Nassau Cricket Stadium in New York on June 10, with umpiring decisions under heavy scrutiny. Bangladesh’s Towhid Hridoy, who scored 37 runs off 34 balls, voiced his frustration over critical calls that impacted the match’s outcome.

One such moment was an LBW decision against Mahmudullah in the 17th over. Despite successfully using DRS to overturn the call, the ball, which had gone to the boundary, was counted as dead, costing Bangladesh four crucial runs. Hridoy also highlighted that several wides were not called during the innings.

“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 was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

“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 a 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 added.

Furthermore, Hridoy was controversially given out LBW off Kagiso Rabada’s delivery, a decision that replays showed was marginal. At that point, Bangladesh needed just 20 runs from 18 balls with two set batters at the crease.

“Actually we were very much confident with that score and from that position I should have finished the match. It is difficult for a new batter to go and adjust to the conditions. In that position I should have finished the match,” Hridoy said.

Despite needing only 11 runs off the last over, Bangladesh fell short, ending at 109/7 even when Keshav Maharaj’s final over included a wide and missed run-out chance.