A major DRS error for Babar Azam by the TV umpire overshadowed the Pakistan vs Australia T20I opener, leaving officials and commentators amused in Lahore.
Hilarious scenes unfolded during the first Pakistan vs Australia T20I in Lahore on Thursday, as TV umpire Nasir Hussain became the centre of attention due to a lapse in concentration during a DRS review. The match officials made notable errors while reviewing a referral taken by Australia against Babar Azam, turning the incident into an awkward moment for Pakistan’s umpiring system on the international stage.
The confusion occurred in the 14th over when Adam Zampa’s delivery beat Babar’s attempted reverse sweep and struck him on the pads. On-field umpire Ahsan Raza was unconvinced by the initial appeal, prompting Australia to opt for a review and sending the decision upstairs.
The Hilarious Confusion In DRS Review
Ball-tracking showed that the delivery had pitched outside off stump and was clearly on course to hit the wickets. However, third umpire Hussain incorrectly ruled it as “pitching outside leg,” seemingly misreading the batter’s stance change during the reverse sweep. The error left commentators and on-field officials in splits.
After being corrected by another official, Hussain asked for the ball-tracking to be shown again. During the second review, he made another mistake by instructing the on-field umpire to “stay with his original decision”, despite the evidence suggesting otherwise.
Although the third umpire quickly corrected himself, Ahsan Raza appeared momentarily confused and made multiple signals before finally arriving at the correct decision.
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Amid the umpiring drama, Babar Azam’s struggles in T20 cricket continued. Pakistan’s star batter scored 24 runs off 20 balls, including one four and one six, at a strike rate of 120. He was eventually trapped in front by Zampa in the 14th over, extending his run of modest scores in the format.
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