Having conceded 56 runs in his four overs, it wasn’t really Chris Jordan’s night. Later, in the pursuit of Kings XI Punjab, Jordan’s ‘short run’, which was not in the penultimate, turned into a snowball in the first controversy of this IPL.
KXIP, which finished tied with Delhi Capitals’ 157 total in Dubai on Sunday, lost the Super Over. The franchise has appealed to the match referee to change the rules to use technology to nullify if the square-legged referee makes a mistake.
“I traveled with enthusiasm during a pandemic, I did 6 days of quarantine and 5 covid tests with a smile, but that Short Run affected me a lot. What good is technology if it can’t be used? It’s time for @BCCI to introduce new rules. This can’t happen every year, ”KXIP co-owner Preity Zinta tweeted.
Zinta reacted to comments from Virender Sehwag, former KXIP player and head coach. Sehwag blamed square-legged referee Nitin Menon for the loss. “I do not agree with the man of the chosen party. The referee who gave this short run should have been the man of the match. Short Run nahin tha. And that was the difference, ”he tweeted.
“I would ask the BCCI to ensure better arbitration and from now on to ensure that the technology is used to the fullest,” KXIP co-owner Ness Wadia said in a statement. KXIP CEO Satish Menon said the team has reached out to the match referee, but has yet to receive a response from the IPL Governing Council. “There is no room for human error in a world-class tournament like IPL. This one race could cost us a spot in the playoffs. I hope the rules are revised after this unfair call, ”he said.
While KXIP has reason to be aggrieved, Menon and the TV referee followed the rule book. According to IPL rule 2.13.1.4, it is up to the square leg referee to call for a ‘short run’. “All signals must be made by the pitcher’s end umpire, except the sprint, which must be signaled by the umpire at the end when a sprint occurs.” Referees on the field should refer a decision to the third referee only in case of doubt or to confirm ‘run out, stumped, throw and hit wicket’.
Controversy over a court referee decision is not new to IPL. Last year, the Royal Challengers Bangalore, who needed 7 runs to win the last ball against the Mumbai Indians, lost by six runs after the referee missed Lasith Malinga’s no-ball with his front foot. Now the TV referee sanctions the no-ball from the front foot.
Sunday’s incident has added to the push for a rule change to use the technology in the event of a similar refereeing error. The square leg umpire is at a disadvantage, he cannot stand exactly in line with the batting area as he would obstruct the broadcast chamber at the boundary of the square leg. With the no-ball call at the end of the bowling alley already made by the TV referee, there is an argument for using technology in all “line call” matters.
“This needs to be cleared up before the tournament, like the front foot no-ball. A clear oversight that I am sure / hope will be corrected in the future. You would think that all these areas would have been analyzed after the World Cup last year, ”said former SRH coach Tom Moody on Twitter, referring to the Super Over drama in England’s victory in the World Cup final over New Zealand.
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