In a match that ended in high controversy, India's cricket team is facing accusations of intimidating umpires to overturn a crucial decision during a rain-shortened T20 international against Japan at the Sano International Cricket Ground on Tuesday. The three-time world champions secured a narrow two-run victory, but the manner of the win has sparked global outrage among cricket journalists, experts, and fans.
The match was reduced to five overs per side due to rain. India, led by captain Shreyas Iyer, posted 32-4, with Iyer contributing 16 off 12 balls. Japan, chasing 33 for a historic upset, needed eight runs off the final over with seven wickets in hand. Left-arm spinner Axar Patel bowled the last over, and after a dot ball and a single, he delivered a ball that was signaled wide by umpire Chris Thurgate. This left Japan needing six runs off four balls, with Alexander Shirai-Patmore on strike.
The next delivery was also called wide, but the batter attempted a reverse-sweep. However, India's captain Iyer and bowler Patel furiously protested the call, confronting the umpires. After a brief consultation between Thurgate and New Zealand umpire Chris Brown, the wide was revoked, denying Japan a run and an extra ball. Japan managed only three singles off the last three balls, falling two runs short. Had the wide stood, Japan would have been in a position to pull off one of the biggest upsets in cricket history.
The decision was heavily criticized. Ben Gardner of Wisden wrote on X: "With five off four needed for the biggest upset in cricket history, India have just bullied the umpires into overturning a wide call against Japan." Social media user Abu Zaid Sarooji said, "Japan were robbed here." According to Law 22.3 of the MCC Laws of Cricket, an umpire can revoke a wide only if the batter changed stance before the ball was bowled, which did not occur. The umpires did not use the Decision Review System and offered no explanation.
After the match, Indian captain Shreyas Iyer praised Japan: "Honestly speaking, it was a very difficult wicket to bat on. A five-over game, it can go anywhere. It doesn't matter how good a team you are. The attitude and approach the Japanese team showed today was impeccable, and kudos to them." Japan's captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming expressed pride: "Emotions are running pretty high in our group. But the fact that we're able to run the best team in the world to the last ball of a game is pretty special."
The match was the result of years of diplomatic efforts and corporate sponsorship by the Japan Cricket Association (JCA). It was the first time Japan, an associate member of the ICC, faced a full member. Japan is ranked 41st in men's T20 cricket, with only 7,300 registered players and 16 grounds. JCA chief executive Naoki Alex Miyaji told Reuters, "One match or competition itself won't change anything... But the match against India is the first page of a new era."
Source: www.aljazeera.com