Massive controversy in PSL 2024! Hawk-Eye issues statement on wrong dismissal and apologizes to PCB

The ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024 has been marred with massive controversy after the game between Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Thursday (19th February).

The game between Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United in the PSL 2024 saw a bit of controversy. During the 11th over of the second innings, Agha Salman bowled a full delivery on off stump to Rilee Rossouw, who missed it completely.

Rilee Rossouw shuffled in for a sweep, missed the ball, and was hit on the pads. The umpire termed it out but the batter opted for DRS. He was saved as the Hawk-Eye showed that the ball was turning away past the stumps. It raised quite a few eyebrows because it looked dead straight.

Islamabad United skipper Shadab Khan expressed his frustration just after that. He asked the umpire Aleem Dar about the review because he believed that it seemed to be clear out but tracking showed the impact was outside off.

Even at the end of the game, Shadab Khan blamed the technology and made a shocking statement, saying that they were shown a different ball. He lashed out at the technology, saying in big tournaments, there shouldn’t be any mistakes. He also talked about the performance of the team and pointed out the positives. He said:

“I think technology was at fault for this loss. We were shown a different ball as to the review ( the review of Rossouw). I bowled 4 overs as a leg spinner, it wasn’t turning much. This one showed impact outside off and spinning away further. In a big tournament like this, there shouldn’t be such mistakes.”

“I think we were 10-15 runs short, as batters we need to take more responsibility. All three Shahs (Naseem, Hunain and Ubaid) are talented, very rare to see so much talent in one household. Hunain was brilliant today, he was ideal for this kind of wicket. He got a wicket off his first ball and was good while fielding as well. We have to be a bit more positive, and play a bit more smart cricket with the bat to get wins.”

The decision cost Islamabad United a lot as Rilee Rossouw turned the game in his team’s favor. The South African batter ended with an unbeaten innings of 34 runs and helped Quetta Gladiators win the game by the margin of 3 wickets.

PSL 2024: Hawk-Eye confirms that Rilee Rossouw’s lbw was a human error

With all the mess around Rilee Rossouw’s dismissal, Hawk-Eye has confirmed to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that it made a human error. The technology admitted that it was an operator error as incorrect ball tracking data was put to air, which gave the wrong decision. As per ESPNCricinfo, Hawk-Eye also apologized to the PCB.

Releasing the official statement, Hawk-Eye expressed its regrets and stated: “Had processes been followed as expected, this (correct ball tracking data) would have been available only a few seconds after the incorrect data was played on broadcast.”

Hawk-Eye notably was approved by the International Cricket Council as technology for ball tracking. It was first trialed in 2008 and has since been part of the DRS.