A massive DRS controversy seemed to have made the headlines during Pakistan's ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 fixture against South Africa in Chennai on Friday. (Match Report | Highlights | Scorecard)
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has given his opinion on the 'umpire's call' rule in the controversial LBW results of Rassie van der Dussen and Tabraiz Shamsi in their 1 wicket loss in Chennai. Despite a heart-breaking loss to South Africa, that puts them on the verge of a WC exit, Babar accepted both the calls sportingly.
"It's part of the game. This is umpire's call so I think it's just part of the game. Had he given it out, it would have favoured us," Babar said during the post-match presentation when asked about the DRS call on Shamsi.
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With Pakistan almost out of the tournament, Babar seemed drained with the opportunity lost.
"I think it's disappointing everyone, we had the opportunity to win this match and stay in the tournament but we missed it. We will try our best in our next three matches and put our effort so let's see where we stand after the three matches."
What happened in that Haris Rauf over against Shamsi?
The Proteas needed 8 runs with one wicket remaining. In the 46th over, Rauf had one delivery to go and he bowled it well as it reversed as the ball drifted onto the pads. The Pakistan players appealed but the umpire was unmoved. Babar sent it upstairs.
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However, the replays showed the ball would've gone onto kiss the top of the stumps - umpire's call. The on-field decision stayed and Shamsi survived. What's more, Maharaj hit the winning boundary off Mohammad Nawaz as Proteas won by one wicket.
Shamsi gives his verdict on the DRS call.
"When I walked down the wicket, Keshav (Maharaj) told me that it was sliding down the wicket. So, I felt cool about it," he told reporters here after the conquest. "Obviously, we felt differently. But when the technology says otherwise, we have to accept it."
