Harbhajan Singh South Africa

South Africa secured a thrilling one-wicket victory on Friday in a nail-biting World Cup match. It holds off a valiant late push from Pakistan to go one wicket closer to the semi-finals. With a brilliant 91 runs, Aiden Markram proved his worth, and South Africa was well-positioned to chase down Pakistan’s 271 total easily.

However, the thrilling conclusion came when the last two players, Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj, came to bat. They had to score the final 11 runs for their side. However, the last ball of the 46th over, delivered by the fiery Haris Rauf, put Shamsi in a nerve-wracking scenario. Shamsi survived a close leg-before-wicket appeal that went to the third umpire.

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shamshi lbw

The on-field umpire first declared Rauf’s ball not out, even though it had struck Shamsi on the front pad. This led Pakistan to take the review. Soon, the ball tracking technology revealed that the ball’s trajectory would have just clipped the leg stump. It led to the decision being upheld as the umpire’s call. The decision broke the hearts of the Pakistani side, as if they already knew that they would have lost the game here.

On the other hand, this stroke of luck allowed Shamsi to continue his innings. Ultimately, Keshav Maharaj brought victory to South Africa with a boundary off Pakistani spinner Mohammad Nawaz on the second delivery of the 48th over. Nevertheless, while the conclusion set off joyous celebrations in the South African camp, people on social media started blaming umpiring for what happened in the match.

While it is natural that Pakistani fans blame umpires for their team’s loss, surprisingly, Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh also echoed the sentiments. He also put the blame on the alleged poor umpiring that happened during the match for Pakistan’s loss. Needless to say, his opinion met with mixed reactions on social media.

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Harbhajan Singh’s reaction to Pakistan’s loss against South Africa met with mixed reactions

Harbhajan Singh, the former Indian cricket sensation, recently caused a social media stir by questioning the regulations of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Decision Review System (DRS) in the wake of Pakistan’s loss to South Africa.

Without holding back, Harbhajan sent out a harsh tweet criticizing both the current DRS regulations and the umpiring decisions. He said that regardless of the on-field umpire’s initial call, if the technology indicates that the ball hit the stumps, the call should be “out.” On his X account, Harbhajan wrote,

“Bad umpiring and bad rules cost Pakistan this game.. @ICC should change this rule .. if the ball is hitting the stump that’s out whether umpire gave out or not out doesn’t matter.. otherwise what is the use of technology??? @TheRealPCB vs #SouthAfrica #worldcup”

This tweet was sent shortly after a controversial DRS ruling in favor of South Africa, even though replays appeared to show the ball was only touching the leg stump.

Although this tweet resonated with some ardent Pakistani cricket fans, it also generated a debate among Indian internet users. People were quick to criticize Harbhajan for what they saw as a lack of consistency in his position. They also asked where he was when Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma faced similar circumstances involving the “Umpire’s Call” during pivotal matches.

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Below are some Twitter reactions on the matter

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Experts and cricket enthusiasts alike continue to weigh in on the discussion surrounding DRS and its use in international cricket. Share your opinion on that decision in the comment section.

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Varanya Mishra
Varanya is a dedicated and versatile content writer with a passion for delivering engaging and informative content. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for storytelling, she has honed her skills in researching, reporting, and crafting compelling narratives across various beats. Her commitment to accuracy and her ability to stay up-to-date on current events allow her to provide readers with timely and well-researched news stories. Her versatile writing style, combined with her extensive experience in the field, makes her a valuable asset in the ever-evolving landscape of journalism.

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