Cuttack: While India and England played their hearts out to assure that the spectators at the Barabati Stadium and millions watching the game on TV screens had a great time, Kumar Dharmasena, the third umpire for the ODI, has once again made a laughing stock out of himself after his confusion over the on-field decision.
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The Sri Lankan, who is on the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, is facing a lot of criticism since the Bangladesh versus England two-match Test series last year. Dharmasena messed up a big time while officiating in the series and had to bank on Decision Review System (DRS) to save his skin. Dharmasena then officiated a few games during the five-match Test series between Virat Kohli-led India and Alastair Cook’s England. His performance in the series did not win him many fans either.
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Dharmasena once again came under scrutiny after his failure to convey the message correctly to the on-field umpire Anil Chaudhary during the second India-England ODI.
In the 47th over of the England innings, when Liam Plunkett was struck onto the pads as he missed a Jasprit Bumrah delivery, Chaudhary had adjudged the England batsman out. Plunkett was quick to review the decision.
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The replays clearly indicated that the ball was pitching outside the off stump and the impact too would have been outside off.
(Photo: Screengrab)
(Photo: Screengrab)
“Nothing there. Just roll back for me to confirm again. I can see clear daylight between the bat and the ball and you can go to ball tracking when it is ready,” Dharmasena said.
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It meant that Chaudhary – the on-field umpire – would have needed to change the decision to not out. But Dharmasena fumbled and asked Chaudhary to stay with the original decision which was not in favour of Plunkett.
“It is impact outside the line and you can stay with your original decision,” added Dharmasena and landed himself in trouble.
There was total confusion in the middle as the players had to return to their original end and with on-field umpire Chaudhary doing his best to control the laughter.
