Sri Lanka captain Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva called for the removal of umpires Lyndon Hanibal and Raveendra Wimalasiri who he charged had failed to declare a waist high delivery as a no-ball at a crucial stage as his team chased down a target of 210 and lost by three runs in the third T20 match against Afghanistan at the Dambulla International Stadium on Wednesday night.
Sri Lanka needed to score 19 runs off the last over bowled by fast bowler Wafadar Momand with the last of the recognised batters Kaminda Mendis facing the final six balls.
It boiled down to Sri Lanka needing 10 off the last two balls when Wafadar bowled a ball that went over the batter’s waist after Mendis stepped out to play the delivery.
Mendis inquired why the delivery was not declared a no-ball that would have brought him a free-hit as a penalty.
Both Hanibal and Wimalasiri were unmoved and Sri Lanka ended up on 206 for 6 in the 20 overs in reply to Afghanistan’s 209 after Mendis dispatched the last ball for a six.
“This should not happen in international cricket. The ball was above the waist and could have almost gone near the batsman’s head.
“If this cannot be seen clearly then these umpires should not function at international cricket and do some other job”, said Hasaranga in a post match Press conference.
Mendis remained unbeaten on 65 made from 39 balls as Afghanistan signed off their tour of Sri Lanka with a solitary victory although losing the T20 series 2-1 after going down in the one-off Test and 3-0 in the ODI series.
