Australia vs Pakistan: Hafeez slams 'inconsistent umpiring', 'curse' of technology after visitors lose Melbourne Test

Pakistan Team Director and interim coach Mohammad Hafeez slammed “inconsistent umpiring” as well as “curse” of technology after his team’s defeat in the second Test against Australia in Melbourne on Friday.

Hafeez specifically pointed at Mohammad Rizwan’s controversial dismissal on Day 4 as an example of questionable umpiring and the use of technology. The wicketkeeper-batter, batting on 35, was initially given Not Out by the onfield umpire while trying to leave a short ball from Pat Cummins, only for the decision to get overturned after Cummins decided to take it upstairs.

Pakistan would crumble after Rizwan’s dismissal and would eventually get bowled out for 237 after being set 317 to win, conceding an unassailable 2-0 series lead with the 79-run defeat.

“Technology, I’m in favour of it if it’s giving you the benefit, but if it’s bringing some doubt and bringing some curse into the game it should not be acceptable by anyone,” Hafeez told reporters in Melbourne on Friday.

“I think there are a lot of areas that need to be addressed for the betterment of cricket in general where technology is taking away from the instinct of the game. We play this game for the fans but the fans will never understand why this technology is inconsistent and the result of the game comes up differently.

“This technology is basically putting a curse on this beautiful game of cricket and we need to address it,” added the former Pakistan batter.

Rizwan, who replaced Sarfaraz Ahmed in Pakistan’s XI for the second Test, had steadied the visitors with a sixth-wicket partnership with Agha Salman that had crossed the fifty-run mark, with the momentum starting to tilt in favour of the Shan Masood-led side. Cummins fired a short delivery that reared up higher than usual and forced Rizwan into shaping for a leave, only for the ball to pass close to his glove.

While the third umpire Richard Illingworth found nothing on HotSpot, there was a spike on Real Time Snicko at the time of the ball passing close to the wristband that is considered part of a batter’s glove, resulting in on-field umpire Michael Gough having to overturn his decision.

Pakistan team director Mohammad Hafeez gives his take on the Test, talking about technology and his team’s performance #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/8uHUoWhZMX

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 29, 2023

Rizwan, though, was perplexed by the turn of events and the expression on his face suggested he was in disbelief, and sure of the fact that he got no contact whatsoever with any part of the bat or glove.

Hafeez said he believed Rizwan when the latter claimed the ball did not touch him anywhere close to the glove.

“I spoke to (Rizwan) and he’s a very honest person. He said he did not even feel that it touched anywhere near the gloves. And what we saw, there should be conclusive evidence to reverse the decision of the umpire. That’s what I know. The umpire gave it not out and there was no conclusive kind of evidence where the decision has to be turned over,” Hafeez added.

As a result of Rizwan’s wicket, Pakistan would end up losing five wickets for 18 runs that ended up extending their 28-year winless run in Tests Down Under.