The Pakistan cricket team has lodged a complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) over a decision taken by Australian umpire Daryl Harper during its third match against hosts Sri Lanka in the recent triangular one-day series.
The team management in its post-match report submitted to match-referee Gundappa Viswanath of India complained that Harper had disallowed legitimate four runs which should have been awarded to the Pakistan team, local daily ‘The News’ said here today.
The incident occurred when Taufeeq Umar played a ball which was picked up by a fielder who tried to run-out non- striker Muhammad Hafeez but the ball deflected off the bat and raced down to the boundary for a four.
Hafeez tried to prompt Taufeeq for a run when the ball went for overthrows but the latter stopped him from taking a run.
[thumb=B]008416[1].JPG[/thumb]
Under the ICC laws if the ball had not crossed the boundary it was the discretion of the batsmen to take runs off the overthrow or not, but once the ball crossed the boundary line the laws state the umpire should have signalled for a four to be awarded to the strike batsman.
But Harper did not signal for a four and instead was seen reprimanding Hafeez for attempting to take a run from the deflection.
The Pakistan team management has complained that Harper ignored cricket laws by not awarding the runs to the batsman and the ICC committee should take note of the incident which, though minor in nature, is a clear example of an umpire knowingly violating cricket laws.
