In a dramatic showdown that culminated in a thrilling tie, the third WODI between India and Bangladesh witnessed sparks flying on and off the field. While Harmanpreet Kaur’s explosive criticism of Bangladeshi umpires, Muhammad Kamruzzaman and Tanvir Ahmed garnered attention, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana demonstrated remarkable composure in her critique of the debatable decisions. The series ended in a 1-1 draw, with both teams locked at an identical score of 225, leaving cricket enthusiasts on the edge of their seats.
Smriti Mandhana reviews “pathetic” umpiring
As the dust settled after the nail-biting tie, Harmanpreet Kaur’s emotions spilt over when she was controversially adjudged leg-before off a Nahida Akter delivery while attempting a sweep shot. Convinced that the ball had struck her bat before making contact with the pads, Kaur’s frustration erupted, and she broke the stumps in disgust. In a post-match presentation that stirred controversy, the Indian skipper minced no words, labelling the umpiring as “pathetic.”
On the other hand, when questioned about the umpiring decisions, Smriti Mandhana’s response was measured and temperate. The vice-captain acknowledged that while certain decisions were questionable, she urged for better umpiring standards in the absence of the Decision Review System (DRS) in the series.
“In any match, sometimes it happens that you are not really happy with the kind of decisions, especially when there is no DRS in the series this time,” Mandhana expressed.
Mandhana expressed faith in the boards
She highlighted that in some cases, the umpires seemed swift in raising their fingers without much contemplation, even when it was evident that the ball might have hit the pad rather than the bat. Mandhana proposed a potential solution to ensure fair and unbiased umpiring going forward. She advocated for the implementation of a neutral umpiring system, which would prevent controversies and allow the focus to shift back to the cricket and its glorious battles.
“I am sure that ICC, the BCB, and the BCCI will definitely have a discussion on that, maybe we have a neutral umpiring system so that we do not sit here having this discussion, maybe we can focus on cricket and cricket-oriented questions,” Mandhana wisely put forth.
Regarding Harmanpreet Kaur’s actions, which raised questions about the ‘Spirit of Cricket,’ Mandhana empathized with her teammate’s emotional outburst. She defended Kaur, acknowledging her relentless desire to win matches for India. “What happened in the middle is part and parcel of the game. We have seen these incidents so much in the past in men’s cricket,” Mandhana said, understanding the intensity and emotions that drive players to compete at the highest level.
The vice-captain gracefully handled the delicate balance between defending her teammate’s passion for victory and acknowledging the importance of maintaining the spirit of the game. While Mandhana refrained from delving deeper into the matter at the moment, she hinted that discussions on the spirit of cricket could take place at a later stage.
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