Bangladesh ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal was ruled caught behind during the Tigers’ third and final ODI against Sri Lanka in Mirpur yesterday. But Tamim, whose side ended up being thrashed by the visitors by 97 runs, said that he is a ‘100 per cent certain’ that he did not edge the ball.
The incident took place in the 10th over of the game. Tamim had just begun to play more freely and confidently following a steady start. However, a slower outside off delivery from pacer Dushmantha Chameera beat the outside edge of Tamim’s bat and carried to the wicketkeeper. With the umpire’s soft signal being out, Tamim reviewed the decision immediately as the bat hit the ground at the time the ball passed by it. The review showed a spike in the snickometer but that could have been either due to bat hitting the ground or the ball hitting Tamim’s willow.
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The confusion prompted a long look by the third umpire during the review, but with no conclusive evidence, the umpire’s original decision stayed.
“It is very disappointing. I was 100 per cent certain that I did not hit the ball. Unfortunately, my bat hit the ground the same time the ball passed by. It was impossible for the umpire to overturn [the decision]. Had the on-field umpire not ruled it as out initially, things could have been different. But I am 100 per cent certain that I did not edge the ball,” said Tamim about his dismissal after the game.
Tamim got off to a decent start but could not capitalise on it. He had to walk back after a steady 29-ball 17 with Bangladesh, who were three down for just 28 runs at that point, desperately needing a partnership.
Despite the crushing defeat, Bangladesh, however, won the three-match ODI series 2-1 due to their victories in the first two ODIs.
