Asia Cup 2022: The DRS (Decision Review System) and the Third Umpire are once again caught in the wind of controversy after Sri Lanka batsman Pathum Nissanka was given out by the third umpire, despite little evidence supporting that decision in the Asia Cup 2022 opener vs Afghanistan on Saturday in Dubai.
Having won the toss and elected to bowl first, Afghanistan got a superb start as left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi nipped out Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka – both lbw – in the first over only.
Afghanistan’s happiness was doubled when, from the other end, right-arm pacer Naveen-ul-Haq, in the second over, had Pathum Nissanka edging to the wicket-keeper after the batter’s failed attempted ambitious slog.
Nissanka had a shocked look on his face – but there were more grave ones to come – and reviewed the on-field umpire Anil Chaudhary’s decision of Out.
Things got trickier for the third umpire, Jayaraman Madanagopal, as the UltraEdge didn’t show anything when the ball was near the bat but it did show a slight – very slight – murmur when the ball passed the bat.
“I see a spike as the ball passes the bat. Satisfied bat involved,” said the TV umpire, and then he asked Anil Chaudhary to stay with his decision of Out. Sri Lankan coach Chris Silverwood who had a laptop in front of him and also seeing visuals on the giant screen was utterly shocked and devastated at the third umpire’s call, gesturing it with both his hands raised high. Utter disbelief on the Sri Lanka head coach’s face.
Satisfied with the spike
Is the third umpire seeing what we saw!!!
LIVE COMMS:
https://t.co/SoRwz2pK88
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Flashscore Cricket Commentators (@FlashCric) Controversy erupted on social media as well with fans slamming the third umpire for his decision which most thought was erroneous.
Here are some of the fan reactions:
Guess what.. 3rd umpire is from India
— ᒶᐡ𝐝
İし𝑎 
(@ludmidench) What’s happening third-umpire!
Chamika Karunaratne is not sure about the decision and so are we.#AFGvSL | #SLvsAFG pic.twitter.com/rdxWvQi6LA
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Third umpire madanagopal is even worse … Two terrible third umpire calls already
— Bharath (@Bhandarmam) August 27, 2022
Another head scratching moment already when 3rd umpire gave Nissanka out.. in a multi national tournament of such magnitude these decisions are not helping at all..
— Pritam Datta
(@PritamDatta88) “Ball has hit the pad.” Lol, there is a big gap. Bat hit the ground and it was a wide.
2nd blunder from 3rd umpire today— ∆nkit
And that is a terrible terrible decision from the third umpire. Cricket has lost logic now, teams sending swing watchmen for openers, third umpire gives a not-out, the only spike there was of incompetency. #SLvAFG
— Nikhil
Not out clearly: Asia cup third umpire via DM https://t.co/R0m36jrd2I
— Archer (@poserarcher) August 27, 2022
The third umpire for Afganistan vs Srilanka#Afghanistan #AsiaCup2022 pic.twitter.com/7Y8BGqvkBo
— Em!N€nt $oC!@li$t (@NosaneEmi) August 27, 2022
Never saw any spike on the ultra edge re Pathum Nissanka’s review. Horrible decision by the 3rd Umpire Jayaraman.
— Roshan Abeysinghe (@RoshanCricket) August 27, 2022
There is no spike here but I don’t know if the third umpire can read what he sees on the screen. Oh woah, he can. Not out.
— Nikhil
#AsiaCup2022 what the fkkk .. how can 3rd umpire give this out.
— Rahul Singh Rajput (@Rahul7573singh) August 27, 2022
That should have been not out…..Not sure 3rd umpire would have still given out had on field umpire ruled not out
— BALAJI (@deep_extracover) August 27, 2022
#AFGvSL #AsiaCup2022
Third Umpire taking decision on Pathum Nissanka’s Dismissal: pic.twitter.com/HSZ2AY7ghD— Vichitra.Duniya
(@vichitra_duniya) What just happened
Pathetic pathetic call from Umpire !— Aman 70 TONS MERCHANT ♡ (@AKhurana1812) August 27, 2022
What is this third umpire smoking? How did he see the ball hitting the pad on Bhanuka’s review? It was clearly the glove hitting the pad. #AFGvSL https://t.co/oKmGtDOKe4
— Kithmina Hewage (@kvh0117) August 27, 2022
Even ignoring that dubious caught behind decision, Sri Lanka had a terrible day with the bat, as an atrocious batting and running between the wicket performance meant that they were bundled out for 105 in 19.4 overs.
Farooqi took 3 wickets for only 11 runs and also bowled a maiden while Mujeeb and Nabi bagged a brace each; there was some harakiri in the middle as well as two Lankan batters were run out. Left-hand batsman Bhanuka Rajapaksa was their top-scorer with 38 runs and nobody else could score more than 20.
Teams:
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana
Afghanistan (Playing XI): Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Karim Janat, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi(c), Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi
