Umpiring mistake kicks up on-field drama in IPL match

Visakhapatnam: Controversy erupted in the IPL match between Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians here in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, on Monday with the latter team`s captain Harbhajan Singh having a heated and prolonged arguement with the field umpires who committed a mistake in not giving a home side batsman out.

The incident happened in the 13th over of the Deccan Chargers` innings after they opted to bat first. Their captain Kumar Sangakkara was clearly out off the bowling of Munaf Patel though the field umpires thought it otherwise initially before referring the decision to the third umpire.

The third ball of Munaf Patel`s third over and 13th of Deccan Chargers` innings saw Sangakkara dragging the ball onto the off-stump with the bails dislodged and the ball hit the wickets for the second time after richoketing from Mumbai wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik.

Field Umpires A K Chowdhury of India and JD Cloete of South Africa consulted each other but thought that the ball came off Karthik`s pads and ruled Sangakkara not out.

That led to the drama with an angry-looking Harbhajan, who took over as Mumbai captain before the tournament after Sachin Tendulkar opted out, came rushing in to the umpires and apparently told Cloete why he did not go upstairs for a third umpire decision.

A heated arguement followed between Harbhajan and the field umpires with Munaf joining in and play stopped for more than five minutes. Harbhajan was seen arguing with the umpires in an aggressive manner, apparently telling them why they did not refer the decision to the third umpire.

Deccan captain Sangakkara also had words with the umpires who finally referred the decision to the third umpire. The third umpire gave Sangakkara out as was expected and play resumed.