Mumbai Indians (MI) coach Mahela Jayawardena has urged the ICC to have a look at their rule books and change the law to make better use of the TV umpires, after the highly controversial incident of on-field umpires missing a possible no-ball for height in the Rajasthan Royals (RR) v Delhi Capitals (DC) IPL 2022 match.
Jayawardena called for better communication between on-field umpires and the TV umpire and better use of the TV officials to make clearer decisions.
Speaking on the ICC review, the former Sri Lankan captain made the recommendation on the back of the controversial finish to the IPL match between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals last week, where the umpires on the field seemingly missed a clear-cut waist-high full toss in the final over of the run chase.
DC camp including captain Rishabh Pant was furious at the call which led to lots of gesturing including Pant asking his two batters to come off the field and then sending assistant coach Pravin Amre on the field to argue with the umpires.
Both Pant and Amre were fined 100 percent of their match fee for their behavior and Amre was also handed a one-match ban for entering the field, a move condemned by Jayawardena.
Clause 21.5 of the ICC Playing Conditions states "The third umpire shall review television replays of the bowler’s front foot landing and, if he/she is satisfied that any of these three conditions have not been met, he/she shall immediately advise the bowler’s end umpire who shall in turn immediately call and signal No ball."
But the clause says nothing about the third umpire being able to check for waist-high full tosses and Jayawardena has urged authorities to use the incident in the IPL as a wake-up call to make better use of video umpires in the future.
"It is something going forward that I think we need to look at. Is there an option for the third umpire to look at these things and inform the main umpires that it is a delivery that should be checked? It was disappointing to see that when you stop a game and have people come on to the field, but I honestly believe it was just emotions carrying over in the last over.
A couple of sixes were hit and there was an opportunity that probably the umpires did get wrong. But the rules say you can’t go to the third umpire to check on those things,” Jayawardena said on ICC review.
He further added that Amre entering the field was not a good look for the game and added: "The spirit of the game and to see things moving forward, it is never an option for a player or a coach to come on to the field.”
(ICC inputs)
