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Pakistan coach Hafeez blames technology after Rizwan's controversial dismissalAfter Cummins took Rizwan's wicket, the third reviewed the decision from different angles before declaring the former out. Reacting to this, Hafeez said Rizwan was clear that the ball didn't touch anywhere near the gloves, and the evidence was not conclusive enough.
Reuters
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<div class="paragraphs"><p>Screengrab of the press conference addressed by Mohammed Hafeez post match on fourth day of Australia vs Pakistan.</p></div>

Screengrab of the press conference addressed by Mohammed Hafeez post match on fourth day of Australia vs Pakistan.

Credit: X/ @cricketcomau

Pakistan coach Mohammad Hafeez said technology was "putting a curse" on cricket after seeing Mohammad Rizwan dismissed following a lengthy review in the visitors' 79-run defeat to Australia in the second test on Friday.

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Set an imposing victory target of 317 runs on day four at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Rizwan (35) and Agha Salman (50) put together a substantial stand of 57 before Pat Cummins separated the pair to leave Pakistan on 219/6.

Cummins' delivery glanced Rizwan's glove before carrying through to wicketkeeper Alex Carey, but Australia's appeal was initially turned down.

The third umpire then overturned the on-field decision following a review which took several minutes and examined the incident from a number of different angles.

After Rizwan's dismissal, Pakistan lost their last four wickets in quick succession as Australia sealed the win and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-test series.

"We play this beautiful game of cricket on the basics of the game, but sometimes the technology brings some decisions which obviously as a human we don't understand...," Hafeez told reporters after the defeat.

He added, "He (Rizwan) is a very honest person and he said to me he did not even feel that it touched anywhere near the gloves. There should be conclusive evidence to reverse the decision of an umpire... and there was no very conclusive kind of evidence. Technology is basically putting the curse on this beautiful game of cricket."

The third and final test of the series will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3.

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(Published 29 December 2023, 16:10 IST)