Former ICC umpire Daryl Harper was unhappy with MS Dhoni as he believes the Chennai Super Kings skipper wasted time deliberately during the side’s clash with Gujarat Titans in the first Qualifier so that Matheesha Pathirana would be eligible to bowl the 16th over on Tuesday.
Harper said to Mid-Day, “Dhoni wasted time to allow his preferred bowling option to deliver the vital 16th over. That’s the only conclusion that I can draw from that disappointing spectacle. The issue for me is the lack of respect shown for the spirit of cricket and for the directions of the umpires. There were other options for the captain, but they were ignored.
Dhoni, seemingly put a pause to the game for about four minutes, to ensure that Pathirana became eligible to bowl the 16th over. This was after officials informed the CSK skipper Pathirana was ineligible to bowl that over as he was out of the field for four minutes.
Dhoni then chatted with the umpire and stopped the play for around four minutes instead of giving over to the other bowler and Pathirana thus became eligible to bowl again.
“Maybe, some people are bigger than the law or in this case, the spirit of cricket. It’s always disappointing to see the lengths that some people will go to in order to win,” Harper was quoted saying.
Former Australian spinner Brad Hogg also reacted to the incident and wrote: “Dhoni using his presence to full effect, luring the umpires into a 4-minute discussion causing time to run out for Pathirana to bowl after an extended break off the field. Umpires laughing over the incident rather than taking control of the situation is not good enough.”
Dhoni using his presence to full effect, luring the umpires into a 4 minute discussion causing time to run out for Pathirana to bowl after an extended break off the field. Umpires laughing over the incident rather than taking control of the situation is not good enough. #CSKvsGT
— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) May 24, 2023
Reacting to the incident, Gavaskar on-air noted: “You accept the umpire’s decision. Even if the umpire gets it wrong sometimes in high-pressure situations.”