Bangladesh will complain to the ICC over claims of distorted umpiring and “unbearable” sledging in the first test against South Africa, officials said while Skipper Mominul said umpires did not intercede when Proteas sledged their players.
Bangladesh will conventionally complain to the International Cricket Council (ICC) over claims of distorted umpiring and “unbearable” sledging in the first Test against Proteas, officials said on Tuesday.
The side was desperate after several close calls went against them in Durban, while they remained aggressive for most of the match but suddenly their side couldn’t handle the pressure and lost the wickets very early. Players have since taken issue with their opponents for on-field taunts they said crossed the line into abuse.
“You all have seen how biased the umpiring was. On the field, sledging was also unbearable,”
Bangladesh Cricket Board cricket operations chief Jalal Yunus told AFP.
“We will write a formal complaint to the ICC match referee manager,”
he added.
Jalal said they raised similar issues to match referee Andy Pycott after their 2-1 One-Day International series win their first win on South African soil.
“Our manager spoke to him several times. But he paid no attention to our complaint,”
Jalal said by phone from Durban.
“We want the ICC to appoint neutral umpires in Test series as soon as possible. We are also ready to welcome neutral umpires in our home series,”
he said.
Umpires from host countries have been used particularly since 2020 when the pandemic put out worldwide travel restrictions, and Proteas umpires Marais Erasmus, and Adrian Holdstock were positioned in the Durban Test.
Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque said umpires did not intercede when South African players sledged their Bangladesh opponents.
“Sledging is a normal thing. But if it comes to the stage of abuse, that is very bad,”
he said.
“I think they abused us in the worst manner and umpires did not notice.”
“I think sledging is part of the game and it is normal but at times it seems they crossed the line and the umpires didn’t notice. We don’t have anything in our hands as far as umpires are concerned but I think ICC should go for neutral umpires as there is hardly any Covid anymore”.
South Africa won by 220 runs in Durban while both Proteas spinners Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer devastated the Bangladesh batting line-up and took all the 10 wickets in the second innings.
The second Test will begin in Gqeberha on April 8.