Mohammad Hafeez has blamed the umpire’s inconsistency and technology fails as the reason for their side’s defeat in the Melbourne Test.
Hafeez on Pakistan’s defeat at Melbourne Test
The side suffered a defeat in the second test of Pakistan’s tour of Australia 2023 by 79 runs at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
On this occasion, the Pakistan team director Mohammed Hafeez was unhappy about the umpire’s call, a system designed to give the benefit of the doubt to the on-field umpire in case the decision isn’t clear.
With the system has been in existence for a long period, Hafeez isn’t the first person to question it. Even players like Shane Warne and Sachin Tendulkar have spoken out against the umpire’s call.
While speaking about the second test match, “There’s always room for improvement in cricket. Umpire’s call creates such doubt that it changes the game completely,” said Hafeez.
“It favours one team and hurts the other. It has to be changed. If it’s hitting the stumps, it should always be out. When the ball hits the stumps, it’s always out. How can you have a situation where a ball is hitting the stumps and [it’s not out] because of the umpire’s call? This has to be looked at.”
He admitted Pakistan was in the position to go for the umpire’s call during the Boxing Day test but among them, the decision given for Mitchell Marsh’s wicket was the most disadvantage for the Pakistan side.
“We made some mistakes as a team and we will address those things but at the same time, I believe inconsistent umpiring and the curse of technology gave a result which should have been different.”
“I feel like these are the areas that need to be addressed. Sometimes it feels like it’s a technology show, and that we aren’t really playing cricket. We played better cricket as a team and we’re proud of that,” Hafeez added.
He said that the Pakistan team was better and should have won the game. He continued that, “We prepared ourselves very well. The way the team had the courage to take this game in the best possible way.”
“If I sum up the game, the Pakistan team played better than the other team in general. Our batting intent was better, and while bowling, we were hitting the right areas.
“This game we were very close but we couldn’t win. We made some mistakes, conceding 52 extras which really hurt us. And then crumbling from 124 for 1 to lose five main batters, that was a crucial moment we couldn’t win in the game.
And then Australia was 16/4, we dropped a couple of catches that should have been taken. There were certain moments in the game we couldn’t win.
If we had taken our chances and won those crucial moments, perhaps this match would have ended earlier and we would have won. But this is the way the game goes; if you make a mistake this game can hurt you.
“I would like to congratulate Australia on a series win for sure they play good cricket. But as a team, I’m really proud of the fact that the Pakistan team showed great courage, great intent, and played with great passion.”
Pakistan stand fifth in the WTC points table after their defeat in Melbourne Test. Pakistan and Australia will be playing their third test starting on January 03 at Sydney Cricket Ground.
