IPL 2020: Kings XI Punjab Officially Lodge An Appeal To The Match Referee Over The 'Short Run' Controversy

The Kings XI Punjab have officially lodged a complaint to the match referee, Javagal Srinath, the umpiring howler they endured against Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) match on Sunday. Kings XI Punjab have reported the wrong call they suffered due to an error in judgment by on-field umpire Nitin Menon and now the matter would be addressed by match referee Javagal Srinath.

The incident took place in the 19th over of KXIP‘s chase. The TV footage showed that square leg umpire Menon had erred in calling Chris Jordan for a one short in the third ball of the 19th over, bowled by Kagiso Rabada. The TV replays showed that Jordan’s bat was inside the crease when he completed the first run, starting from the non-striker’s end.

IPL 2020: Kings XI Punjab Officially Lodge An Appeal To The Match Referee Over The ‘Short Run’ Controversy

“We have appealed to the match referee. While a human error can happen and we understand that, there is no room for human errors like these in a world-class tournament like the IPL. This one run could cost us a play-off berth,” Kings XI Punjab CEO Satish Menon told PTI.

“A loss of a game is a loss of a game. It is unfair. Hope the rules are reviewed so that there is no margin for human error,” he added.

However, the appeal is unlikely to yield any result since rule 2.12 (Umpire’s decision) in the IPL rule book on playing conditions says that “An umpire may alter any decision provided that such alteration is made promptly. This apart, an umpire’s decision, once made, is final.”

The decision was not reversed despite technological evidence that it was a wrong call. In the final over, Punjab needed 13 runs to win and Agarwal managed 12 runs in the first three balls. If that one ‘short-run’ was credited to their total, Punjab would have won with three balls to spare but they lost two wickets in the final two balls after a dot fourth ball and it spilled to a Super Over, which they lost.