confirmed.
I’m disappointed that a legal complaint wasn’t lodged and this was only an informal report. But Inzi still has the opportunity to smoke Taufel when he does the post match review which I hope he will avail (fingers crossed).
**Poor umpiring reported to ICC referee **
From our correspondent
MULTAN: The Pakistan team management have drawn the attention of match-referee Ranjan Madugalle to the contentious decisions given by Australian umpire Simon Taufel against Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana on the third day of the first Test against India.
Sources close to the team management confirmed that the attention of the match referee had been drawn to the two decisions and the effect they could have on Pakistan’s chances of saving the match.
“Manager Haroon Rasheed and coach Javed Miandad told Madugalle they were not happy with the two decisions given by Taufel which came at crucial times,” the source said.
Taufel gave Inzamam out caught bat and pad off Anil Kumble when he was batting superbly on 77 runs and it ended a 160 runs stand with Yasir Hameed.
Then, as Youhana had set up another good stand with Abdul Razzaq he was given out caught behind off Zaheer Khan when the ball appeared to have brushed his thigh pad going down the leg side.
“The Pakistan management reminded Madugalle that Inzamam and Youhana were the team’s most experienced batsmen and their dismissals at crucial stages badly affected the team and brought the other players under pressure,” the source said.
Under the International Cricket Council (ICC) Code of Conduct players and team officials cannot comment on any decision of the umpires or match-referee.
But privately they are allowed to discuss any contentious decisions with the referee to submit their complaints. The source said the team management had not made any official complaint but had alerted Madugalle.
“My wicket was crucial and it upset our balance,” Inzamam said when asked about his dismissal at the post-day conference. Inzamam refused to comment when asked if he had anything to say on the contentious decisions given against him and Yousuf Youhana by Taufel, but added: “I can’t say anything under the code of conduct. But you all have seen it on television, judge for yourselves,” he added.
Meanwhile Inzamam still believes his team is capable of salvaging a draw against India in the first Test match dominated so far by the visitors. “It is not going to be easy. But I think we have batted well and positively in the match and we can save the follow-on and the match on the next two days,” he said.
Pakistan are still trailing by 311 runs to India’s first innings total of 675 for 5 at close on the third day of the Test. Pakistan lost their sixth wicket of Moin Khan on the last ball of the day requiring another 112 runs to save the follow-on. “It is not that we have batted badly today. Everyone tried hard and made an effort. But when you are facing a total of 675 runs, even 364 appears small. But we have not adopted a negative approach and will remain positive,” he said.
The Pakistan captain admitted he was disappointed with the flat pitch prepared for the match and believed the curators were not able to prepare what they had wanted.
“But for the second Test we will have a livelier wicket because we need a hard and bouncy pitch to support our bowlers. There is still a long way to go in this series.”
He didn’t believe that India held a psychological edge over his team after winning the one-day series and notching up a massive total in the Test.
"No. There is no edge. We have the capability of coming back in this series. I just think it is a matter of time before our bowlers regain their form and bowl to a proper line and length.
So far the batsmen have supported them well."
Inzamam, who is also a member of the triple hundred club after his 329 against New Zealand in April 2002 at Lahore, paid rich tributes to Virender Sehwag’s effort of 309 runs on the second day.
“Anyone who scores 300 runs is doing something unusual and magnificent. He played really well although I think our bowlers didn’t bowl well on the first day.”
Referring to Sachin Tendulkar remaining undefeated on 194 after Indian skipper Rahul Dravid closed the innings on Monday evening, Inzamam said if it had been his player he would have allowed him to score a double hundred.
