‘Don’t fool people’- Harbhajan Singh slams technology over DRS fiasco in Pakistan vs South Africa ODI World Cup 2023 clash

India’s former spin wizard Harbhajan Singh slammed the Apex Cricket Council and all those cricket experts who support upholding the role of ‘Umpires Call’ in DRS decisions, which includes the former England captain and broadcaster Naseer Hussain who was seen explaining the existence and importance of the ‘Umpires Call’ in his old video.

Yesterday’s match between South Africa and Pakistan saw some controversial DRS decisions where both the teams were at the receiving end of some controversial ‘Umpires Call’ decisions which drew some strong reactions from both the fans and some former players. 

Among the former players, Harbhajan Singh was the one who was the most vocal among the former players. He even went out to say that Pakistan was robbed of a victory against South Africa because of the confusing ‘Umpires Call’ and called for either scrapping the ‘Umpires Call’ or completely relying on the umpires.

Harbhajan Singh said on Twitter, “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 the umpire gave out or not doesn’t matter. Otherwise, what is the use of technology???”.

Harbhajan even took on the former England captain Naseer Hussain, who was seen defending the technology by explaining the importance of ‘Umpires Call’ when a user tagged him in an old video of the latter. He went on to say that the technology company must have paid him to speak for the technology and urged the Apex Cricket Council to not fool the fans who love the sports and bring more consistency in the technology.

Harbhajan tweeted, “Paid to speak for tech to show tech is right .he is suggesting tech is right @imVkohli isn’t Coz tech must have paid the broadcaster to show how important is tech .. OK if the tech is right go with tech y do u need umpires to stick to their own decisions? Utterly nonsense .. use 1 tech or umpire .. don’t make people who love this game blindly"

What was the controversy all about?

It all started in the 19th over when Van der Dussen was given out by the umpire it looked like a missing leg from the naked eye but when the batsmen took the DRS, it came out as ‘Umpires Call’ for both impact and hitting the stumps as the ball was seen just clipping the stumps.

But the boiling point of the match was the LBW shout against the bowling of Harris Rauf when South Africa was 9 down and had the umpire given it out it would have been curtains for South Africa. Pakistan took it to the review and the appeal which was looking out from the naked eye was turned down as it was ‘Umpires Call’ and as the umpire had given it Not Out, South Africa survived and went on to win the match.