Umpiring error sparks controversy

Controversy erupted in the IPL match between Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians on Monday with the Mumbai captain Harbhajan Singh having a heated and prolonged argument with the field umpires who committed a mistake in not giving a home batsman out.

The incident happened in the 13th over of the Deccan Chargers’ innings, bowled by Munaf Patel.

Captain Kumar Sangakkara was clearly out off the bowling of Munaf Patel though the field umpires thought otherwise initially, before referring the decision to the third umpire.

Sangakkara had dragged the ball onto the off-stump and the bails were dislodged. The ball hit the wickets for the second time after recocheting off Mumbai wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik’s pad.

Field Umpires A K Chowdhury of India and JD Cloete of South Africa consulted each other but thought that the ball came off Karthik’s pads and ruled Sangakkara not out.

That led to the drama with an angry Harbhajan rushing to the umpires. A heated argument followed with Munaf joining in and play stopped for more than five minutes. Deccan captain Sangakkara also had words with the umpires who finally referred the decision to the third umpire, who gave Sangakkara out, allowing play to go ahead.