da bwin： Inzamam-ul-Haq became victim of a dubious “leg before decision” as SriLanka were crowned new Asian Test champions after beating Pakistan byeight wickets on the fifth morning at the Gaddafi Stadium Sunday
da betcris： Samiul Hasan11-Mar-2002Inzamam-ul-Haq became victim of a dubious “leg before decision” as SriLanka were crowned new Asian Test champions after beating Pakistan byeight wickets on the fifth morning at the Gaddafi Stadium Sunday.The Pakistan vice-captain was declared out by Australian Daryl Harperoff a no-ball. Earlier Harper blundered when headjudged Abdul Razzaqlbw off Muttiah Muralitharan.Inzamam’s dismissal opened the floodgates for Sri Lanka with thesecond new ball as Pakistan were bowled out for 325, having startedthe day at 248 for five.Sri Lanka, needing 32 for victory, took as many deliveries but lostboth the openers before completing a clinical and professional job.Despite Harper’s howlers the visitors deserved victory, their ninth insuccession as Pakistan were totally and utterly outclassed.”I would say Inzamam was very unlucky,” Pakistan coach Mudassar Nazarremarked.Without defending Pakistan’s pathetic and indisciplined performanceand belittling Sri Lanka’s professional show, Harper’s horrendousbloomer took the gloss off what was set to be an exciting finale tothe final day following 328 minutes loss on the fourth day.Pakistan’s gallant fightback was being led by Inzamam with ShoaibMalik extending good helping hand. But the 31-year-old was givenmarching orders at 99 – his sixth nervous ninety figure in 80 Tests -and after he had added 100 runs for the sixth wicket with Shoaib Malikin 183 minutes.Harper, who is in the panel of ICC umpires, had also denied Pakistanvictory in the 1999 Test against Australia at Hobart. On thatoccasion, he had given Justin Langer not out after the left-handerthick edged Wasim Akram to Moin Khan. Australia won the Test by fourwickets to take an impregnable 2-0 lead that led to a 3-0 demolitionof Wasim’s men.Harper’s decision adds fuel to the debate on giving more powers totelevision umpires who have replay facilities. If leg before decisioncan’t be referred to TV umpires, no-balls can definitely be adjudgedwith television assistance.The Sri Lankans clearly had problems with over-stepping in the match.Chaminda Vaas alone over-stepped 30 times, including 20 in the secondinnings. Overall, 66 no-balls were bowled in the match, a fact thatmight interest the statisticians.The idea of judging no-balls was floated last year after Old TraffordTest where Pakistan were fortunate to escape away with four wickets,all off no-balls. The umpire that time was David Shepherd, which alsoproves the point that umpiring is overall on a decline.Pakistan can feel cheated as it is the third time in less than twoyears that they have to pay for umpiring errors. In 2000, they weredenied to make history in the West Indies when New Zealander DougCowie declared last man Courtney Walsh not out when he was held atshort-leg off a big inside edge.In December 2000, Jamaican Steve Bucknor forced the conclusion of thethird Test in near darkness, overruling Pakistan protest of notsighting the ball.Reverting to the proceedings of the game, Inzamam began positively andconfidently under a clear blue sky by hitting Muttiah Muralitharan for14 runs in an over with two boundaries and a six. He looked confidentand on a mission as he batted with responsibility and commitment untilHarper gave him the shock of his life.Inzamam occupied the crease for exactly five hours during which hereceived 228 balls. Inzamam, normally a free stroking batsman, hit sixboundaries and a six.Inzamam’s dismissal, in the seventh over of the day and fourth withthe second new ball, ended slim Pakistan hopes and after Shoaib Malikand Rashid Latif back in the pavillion within a space of nine balls.Skipper Waqar Younis threw his bat around and picked up fourboundaries and a six off Vaas to avert innings defeat until he wasadjudged caught at forward short-leg off Muralitharan who finishedwith four wickets for 72 runs.The spin king had match figures of eight for 127. He now has 48wickets in his last seven Tests on Pakistan soil.Vaas ended up with four for 85 following his two for 62 in the firstinnings.While the defeat ended Pakistan’s run of six straight victories, itwas their sixth loss in the last 14 Tests at home since losing toAustralia at Rawalpindi in 1998. The home team has won just two Tests,one each against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.Pakistan, who paid the price for dropping Saqlain Mushtaq and by notconsidering Wasim Akram for selection, were badly let down by thefielders who grassed no less than four catches – three off Sangakkara.Sri Lanka have sent Pakistan back to the drawing board who were flyinghigh following their victories over poor Bangladesh and the WestIndies.New Zealand are to arrive here in less than five weeks and unless theproblems are sorted out, identified and dealt with, more embarrassmentlooks to be in store.
