Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) co-owner Ness Wadia requested Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to increase the usage of technology in order to reduce the umpiring errors of the kind that cost his team the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 campaign opener against Delhi Capitals (DC) last Sunday (September 20).
In the 19th over of the run-chase, KXIP batsmen Mayank Agarwal and Chris Jordan ran across for a two. Square leg umpire Nitin Menon called Jordan for a 'short-run', but it was clear through the TV footage seconds later that the batsman had actually crossed the line.
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Despite the technological evidence, however, the decision wasn't reversed.
In a game where both teams ended up scoring 157 runs in their 20-overs quota and the tie was broken through the super-over which DC won, Menon's incorrect call proved really costly.
"It is exceedingly unfortunate that today with tremendous use of technology, we still do not use technology to ensure the total fairness and transparency in cricket games like several other leagues across the world including EPL, NBA, etc," Wadia was quoted as saying in a statement by ANI.
"VAR has become something which is used across the world. The game of yesterday in question between Kings XI and Delhi had two umpiring mistakes which cost KXIP the game. The first came in the first few overs of the match where a leg bye went for four and it was given as leg bye by the umpire but it was actually a wide ball. That one run would have helped Kings XI win the game versus losing."
"The second disastrous decision came at the end of the game in the last couple of overs, when a run was deemed as not being a run even though TV replays showed that it had been a run. Unfortunately, these two decisions cost Kings XI the game," he added.
It isn't really prudent to depend on human judgement so much in cases where the technological processes can easily be tweaked and a fair decision can be arrived at.
"I would request BCCI to ensure better umpiring and to ensure henceforth that technology is used to the maximum so as to ensure fairness and transparency in a game which is used across the best leagues in the world," said Wadia.
"Therefore, I feel it is unfortunate that Kings XI were the subject of poor decision making by the umpire and this cost us the game. I do hope that BCCI implements a system and process so that the other teams do not suffer the same plight as Kings XI did yesterday."
"If technology is not there to be used for the fairness and transparency of the game and to ensure that it is equitable to all, then why to use technology at all?" he asked.
Kings XI next play Royal Challengers Bangalore on Thursday (September 24) in Dubai.
