PCB Files Complaint Over Bangladesh’s Controversial Review in Third ODI

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has lodged a formal complaint with match referee Neeyamur Rashid regarding an on-field decision made by umpire Kumar Dharmasena during the final moments of the third ODI against Bangladesh in Mirpur.

The Pakistan team management argues that Bangladesh was allowed to take an LBW review after a replay of the delivery had already appeared on the stadium’s big screen.

The incident occurred during a crucial moment of the match when Pakistan required 12 runs from the final two balls. Bangladesh spinner Rishad Hossain delivered a ball that drifted onto leg stump and spun further down the leg side away from Shaheen Afridi.

The on-field umpire initially signaled the delivery as a wide. After a brief discussion among the Bangladesh players, they chose to take a DRS review for LBW, despite the ball appearing to pass nowhere near Shaheen Afridi’s body or legs.

According to standard DRS protocols, teams must decide whether to review before any replay appears on the stadium screen, ensuring that players are not influenced by replays.

Pakistan claims this protocol was not followed because the big screen had already shown the ball passing the bat before Bangladesh requested the review. The Pakistan side believes this replay may have given Bangladesh additional information suggesting the ball had made contact.

Pakistan officials have also raised concerns that the review may have been taken outside the permitted 15-second window, although no timer was visible in the broadcast to confirm this.

Shaheen Afridi’s visible frustration became clearer when the decision went to Hawk-Eye technology. The review indicated that the ball had grazed the toe of Afridi’s bat, meaning it could not be called a wide delivery.

Although Bangladesh ultimately lost the LBW review, the original wide call was overturned. As a result, Pakistan suddenly needed 12 runs from a single ball instead of two.

On the final delivery, Shaheen Afridi swung his bat in frustration and was stumped, sealing an 11-run victory for Bangladesh, who also clinched the ODI series 2-1.

It remains unclear what specific action the PCB expects from the match referee, though reports suggest the board is seeking at least a public acknowledgment of the error.