DHAKA, Bangladesh, CMC – Skipper Carlos Brathwaite revealed yesterday that he had complained to the ICC match referee Jeff Crowe about the standard of umpiring following the second Twenty20 International last Thursday.
Speaking in the wake of the controversy of the third T20 International, Brathwaite said he was prompted to take the action because of his concern that no marginal decisions were going in West Indies’ favour.
“I went to the match referee after the second game. I didn’t think the 50-50 decisions were going in our favour. Those decisions went for Bangladesh,” Brathwaite said in the post-match media conference.
“I never ever want to accuse someone of cheating. I will stop short of that. They are professionals as well. I don’t think they would go out there to be biased or, for lack of a better word, cheat.
“I didn’t accuse them of cheating but I made my point clear to the match referee that every 50-50 decision in the ODI series and T20I series up to that point went against us.
Traditionally, we haven’t played the best cricket, whether red or white ball. But I found that every time I have been playing for the West Indies, the decisions have hampered us. It happened earlier in the fourth over, so a point needed to be made.”
Controversy erupted in the fourth over when fast bowler Oshane Thomas was wrongly no-balled after removing top-scorer Liton Das for 28, with subsequent replays showing the bowler had in fact not over-stepped.
The incident led to a break in play as Brathwaite protested the decision, first with the on-field umpires and then with the fourth umpire and match referee Crowe.
The decision was allowed to stand and after re-grouping, an inspired West Indies bundled out Bangladesh for 140 to win by 50 runs and take the three-match series 2-1. “Everyone saw that it was not a no-ball. For a young man who is inexperienced, Oshane Thomas was under the pump,” Brathwaite explained.
“To finally get a dismissal but the ball has gone to your name as free-hit, to bowl the extra ball with an extra run, obviously it messed his mindset. As captain I had to take fall for the team. I had to make a stance not just for myself or the team but for West Indies cricket.”
But Brathwaite also commended Crowe for his understanding, especially in what was a volatile situation.
“After we had some stern words, it was resolved. We worked too hard for my team to walk off the field or forfeit the game or series. The decision was to stay on, fight on and finish the game,” the all-rounder said.
“But I also asked the match referee for five minutes that our team can get their head around playing a cricket game, forget the debacle that has just happened, get past the event and let us just finish the remaining 16 overs. Thankfully it was allowed.”
