Pakistan’s team director, Mohammad Hafeez, pointed to “inconsistent umpiring and technology issues” as contributing factors in their 79-run loss while chasing 317 against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Addressing the press after the match, Hafeez criticized the umpiring decisions, emphasizing their impact on Pakistan’s defeat.
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“We acknowledge our team’s errors and will work on them. However, inconsistent umpiring and technology setbacks affected the result,” Hafeez stated candidly.
Hafeez also mentioned the setback caused by Mohammad Rizwan’s contentious dismissal, which disrupted Pakistan’s momentum in their pursuit of victory.
“The timing of Rizwan’s dismissal was crucial. We were on track but faced a setback after that decision,” he remarked.
Speaking about Babar Azam’s form in red-ball cricket, Hafeez expressed confidence in Azam’s abilities.
“Babar is a talented player. We hope he can deliver in upcoming games. He’s performing well in practice, and we anticipate a match-winning innings from him in the Sydney Test,” Hafeez added optimistically.
Hafeez’s remarks followed the controversial decision involving Rizwan. When Australia’s skipper, Pat Cummins, appealed for a caught behind, the on-field umpire initially ruled not out. However, a review revealed a possible glove, leading to Rizwan’s dismissal despite insufficient evidence.
Rizwan, batting on 35 runs, fell victim to the decision, leaving Pakistan 98 runs away from victory. With the final Test in Sydney starting on January 3, Pakistan looks to bounce back.
