A ‘no ball’ dispute

In the fourth over of Bangladesh’s innings, Liton was caught on one of the no-balls and that triggered a controversy. Skipper Brathwaite asked for a review but he was declined. And the ‘no ball’ battle begins then!

Windies skipper Carlos Brathwaite seemed livid on watching it on the big screen, and insisted on using the DRS to review it. After animated discussions, the umpires allowed him to take it upstairs, and umpire Ahmed, after discussion on his walkie-talkie, signalled Das out as well.

However the fourth umpire and match referee, Jeff Crowe, were quick to step in, calling Brathwaite to the boundary for another discussion, this time joined by the West Indian team management and Bangladeshi skipper, Shakib Al Hasan, following which Das was reinstated and a free-hit was signaled, Crickbuzz reports.

The commentator on-air, Gautam Bhimani, soon cleared the air on the matter reading out a statement from the third umpire, which stated that “the very fact that the on-field umpire called a no ball is the decision of the on-field umpire and has to be accepted as an error and CANNOT be reviewed," which comes under ICC’s section 3.1.1. and 3.1.2.

3.1.1 A player may request a review of any decision taken by the on-field umpires concerning whether or not a batsman is dismissed, with the exception of ‘Timed Out’ (Player Review).

3.1.2 No other decisions made by the umpires are eligible for a Player Review with the exception of Fair Catch/Bump Ball (even after the third umpire has been consulted and the decision communicated).

Also, the fact that Brathwaite had seen the replays on the big screen before signalling the decision to review wouldn't have allowed him a review in normal circumstances under section 3.2.3 which states clearly that 'under no circumstances is any player permitted to query an umpire about any aspect of a decision before deciding on whether or not to request a Player Review. If the on-field umpires believe that the captain or either batsman has received direct or indirect input emanating other than from the players on the field, then they may at their discretion decline the request for a Player Review. In particular, signals from the dressing room must not be given.'

In the same over, the fourth of the Bangladesh innings, a similar wrong decision had been called by the umpire when Thomas had his foot inside the line but was asked to bowl again. That free hit had resulted in a boundary as well.

The 10-minute drama came to a close with the umpires getting into a huddle and the Windies getting into a huddle themselves before resumption of the free-hit, which Soumya Sarkar duly smashed for six.