Pakistan coach Mohammad Hafeez blames umpires for Boxing Day Test defeat

Pakistan’s team director has lashed the Boxing Day Test umpires and the decision review system after a chaotic collapse at the MCG.

A furious Pakistan has called for an overhaul of “cursed” decision review technology and claimed it was robbed of a treasured Boxing Day Test victory by a series of umpiring errors.

Pakistan team director Mohammad Hafeez says Pakistan “played better” than Australia at the MCG and lashed out at the match officials for “inconsistent umpiring” throughout the second Test as the tourists succumbed to a series defeat.

Hafeez said wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan was adamant the ball did not hit his glove when he was given out caught behind on review in a game-changing decision which triggered a collapse of 5-18 in just 40 deliveries.

Rizwan’s reaction to the decision is set to be scrutinised by ICC match referee Javagal Srinath after he remonstrated with umpires in the middle during and after the review, in which TV umpire Richard Illingworth found the ball had struck the wristband of his glove.

His coach said the decision against Rizwan and several other “umpire’s call” reviews had cost Pakistan the game.

A furious Mohammad Rizwan (right) departed after a review found him out caught behind to Pat Cummins to trigger a collapse of 5-18. Picture: William WEST / AFP

“Yes, we made some mistakes as a team – we will take that, we will address those things, but at the same time I believe inconsistent umpiring, technology curse … really given us a result which should have been different, so I feel like these are areas that need to be addressed rightly,” Hafeez said after play.

“Not only (the Rizwan) decision but if you see the whole game, the very inconsistent decisions of the umpires.

“We play this beautiful game of cricket with a natural instinct, and we all know the basics of the game, but sometimes it seems like it’s a technology show, it’s not the cricket we are playing instead.”

Hafeez doubled down on his criticism of the decision review system, saying the process leading to an umpire’s call decision was “not understandable”.

“Technology, I’m in favour of that … but if it’s bringing some doubts or bringing some curse into the game, it should not be acceptable,” he said.

‘(The ball hitting the stumps) is always out. Why it’s umpire’s call, I’ll never understand that.

“The fans will never understand why this technology is inconsistent, and the result of the game basically comes up differently.

Pakistan team director Mohammad Hafeez, pictured during his playing days, says his side was the ‘better team’ and deserved to win the Boxing Day Test. Picture: Saeed Khan / AFP

“I will sum up – Pakistan team played better than the other team, in general. Our batting intent was better, our bowling was hitting in the right areas.”

Hafeez took credit for Babar Azam’s move to first slip on the fourth day, with the star batter taking a catch low to his right after replacing Abdullah Shafique following his two dropped catches for the match.

He said Pakistan “absolutely” should have entered the Test series with its best slip fielders identified, but thought Shafique’s main issue was a lapse in confidence.

“We saw Abdullah wasn’t feeling comfortable out there – obviously as a team, you always back your teammates if something is not going well for him, but we made this decision,” Hafeez said.

“If he’s not feeling comfortable, Babar is always a better fielder so why not he should take that lead and go into first slip, so I think that also worked out very well for me as a director, that I can see the right person is in the right job.

“(Shafique) used to do the slip fielding very well … different conditions might be disturbing him, but I will still believe he’s a good fielder.”

Originally published as Pakistan coach Mohammad Hafeez blames umpires for Boxing Day Test defeat