Umpire's call debate reignites, Harbhajan Singh, Harsha Bhogle and others join in | PAK vs SA

After Pakistan vs South Africa ODI World Cup 2023 match saw several DRS decisions being upheld and overturned due to umpire's call, it reignited the debate over whether it was a fair way to adjudge a batter out.

Tabraiz Shamsi was given not out for an LBW appeal and the decision couldn't be overturned despite the ball clipping the stumps. He was the last Proteas batter and had he been originally given out, Pakistan would have won the match. This left former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh frustrated.

Bhajji wrote on X, '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?' he asked.

Ex-South Africa skipper Graeme Smith too joined the debate and replied by saying, 'Bhajji, I feel the same as you on umpires call, but Rassie van der Dussen and South Africa can have the same feeling?' he questioned.

Esteemed commentator Harsha Bhogle then explained the rule in detail.

'I suspect it is time to explain "Umpire's Call" again. After the ball strikes the pad, what you see is a projection of where the ball might have been, it isn't the actual ball because that has met an obstruction. If more than 50% of the ball is projected to hit the stumps, you can be 100% sure it will. But if less than 50% of the ball is projected to hit the stumps, the current accuracy levels cannot state with 100% certainty that the ball would have hit the stumps. Hence, you go back to the Umpire's original decision because you cannot be certain enough to overturn his call. It is a very good and fair method. As cameras get better and the projected path more certain, we could reach a day when you can be certain that even if the projected path shows a ball merely clipping the stumps, it would in reality have hit them,' he wrote on X.