CENTURION, South Africa: Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur was on Friday givenan official warning and fined one demerit point for showing dissent at acontroversial decision by television umpire Joel Wilson on the third day ofthe first Test against South Africa at SuperSport Park.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the sanction in astatement issued after the match, which South Africa won by six wickets.
The statement said: “The incident happened in the ninth over of SouthAfrica´s second innings when Arthur, after TV umpire Joel Wilson haddecided in favour of Dean Elgar, entered the TV umpire´s room and showeddissent at Mr Wilson´s decision by first questioning him and then stormingout of the room.
“After the match, the Pakistan coach admitted the offence and accepted thesanction proposed by match referee David Boon. As such, there was no needfor a formal hearing.”
The charge was laid by Wilson.
The incident came at a crucial stage of South Africa´s successful chase ofa target of 149 when the hosts were 16 for one and both Elgar and HashimAmla were struggling against Pakistan´s new-ball bowlers.
Elgar, on four, edged new bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi low to first slipwhere Azhar Ali appeared to take a diving catch.
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On-field umpires Bruce Oxenford and Sundaram Ravi conferred beforereferring to television umpire Wilson with a ´soft´ signal of out,indicating they thought it was a clean catch.
After looking at several replays, including super-slow close-ups, Wilsonruled the ball had bounced and Elgar was reprieved. He went on to make 50and shared a partnership of 119 with Amla which virtually ensured SouthAfrica´s win.
The decision clearly astonished the Pakistan players and Arthur was seenleaving his place on the players´ balcony and going to the adjacent officeof match referee Boon.
“I´m convinced he was out,” said television commentator Michael Holding. “Ithink the third umpire made a mistake. The protocol says you have got to be100 percent sure the decision was wrong to change it.” – APP/AFP
