ICC U-19 World Cup 2018: Watch - South Africa's Jiveshan Pillay Given Out Controversially for Obstructing the Field

In a controversial decision that is set to create quite a debate over the spirit of cricket, South Africa U-19 batsman Jiveshan Pillay was given out ‘obstructing the field’ in the ICC Under-19 World Cup against defending champions West Indies on Wednesday (January 17).

The South Africa opener was sent back to the pavilion after he picked up the ball with his hand even though it had stopped entirely after it had missed the off-stump on rolling back once he got an inside edge off Jarion Hoyte.

It looked all fine when Pillay picked up the ball and threw it to West Indies skipper and wicketkeeper Emmanuel Stewart. However, Stewart went up to appeal immediately and surprisingly got the decision in his favour. Third umpire Ranmore Martinesz adjudged Pillay out after seeing numerous replays.

But while the decision is bound to spark widespread debate, there was very little the umpire could do, as they just followed the law. According to Law 37.4, which deals with “Returning the ball to a fielder’:

“Either batsman is out Obstructing the field if, at any time while the ball is in play and, without the consent of a fielder, he/she uses the bat or any part of his/her person to return the ball to any fielder.”

Here is a clip of the incident:

The South African batsman Jiveshan Pillay was given out for this in the Under 19 World Cup game against the West Indies #U19CWC pic.twitter.com/abLvn9NrCb

— Rudi Edsall (@RudiEdsall) January 17, 2018

The clip clearly shows that Pillay picked up a stationary ball but the West Indies players were in no mood to let it go, as they decided to appeal and rightly got the decision in their favour. Pillay was on 47 with the help of five fours and two sixes before being given out. South Africa had reached 77 for two in 16.3 over batting first when the incident took place. They eventually scored 282 for eight in the allotted 50 overs.

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