BD-S Africa match sparks a heated debate over dead-ball rule

The T20 World Cup 2024 clash between Bangladesh and South Africa, held at Nassau County Cricket Stadium in New York on Monday, has sparked a heated debate over the dead-ball rule, report agencies.
Bangladesh lost by a narrow margin of four runs, prompting former cricketers and fans alike to question if the dead-ball rule unfairly cost them the match.
Questions were asked if Bangladesh were robbed of a win as they fell agonisingly short of a 113-run total by just four runs despite having been brave with the bat for the most of their chase on a sluggish pitch.
The controversy erupted in the 17th over when Mahmadullah was given out LBW by on-field umpire Sam Nogajski. South Africa fast bowler Ottneil Baartman started celebrating even as the ball went to the boundary after hitting the pads. However, Mahmadullah took a review and had the decision against him overturned. However, Bangladesh were not awarded four runs for leg-byes as the call by Nogajski was made before the ball rolled onto the boundary.
Bangladesh took the chase down to the last over. 11 runs were needed in the last six deliveries. Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj was tasked with the responsibility of bowling the last over and he did well to keep the likes of Mahamadullah and Rishad Hossain quiet. Mahmadullah got out to a full toss in the fifth delivery of the over and Bangladesh needed six runs in the last ball. Taskin Ahmed was unable to put another full toss from Keshav Maharaj away as Bangladesh agonisingly lost by four runs.
The margin of defeat irked quite a few on social media who highlighted how the dead-ball rule robbed Bangladesh of 4 runs in the 18th over.
The dead-ball rule has cost quite a few teams in the past. And Bangladesh were the latest victims of the rule that has been severely criticised. Earlier in the year, legendary Sunil Gavaskar, writing for Sportstar, had urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to revisit the rule.
The rule says that no extra runs (leg-byes or byes) will be given if on-field umpire gives a batter out LBW even if the decision is overturned by the third umpire. However, the batting team can be given leg-bye runs if the on-field umpire's decision of not out stays after a review.
Gavaskar, in his column, had pointed out that captains can take advantage of the law and use the reviews to deny crucial runs to the opposition.
Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer was among the many who voiced out against the rule on Monday after Bangladesh's heartbreaking loss.
Bangladesh were not able to hold their nerve in the end, especially after the dismissal of Towhid Hridoy in the 18th over. Mahmadullah used all his experience to take the game into the final over, but the rub of green went South Africa's way.
South Africa defended 113 -- the lowest total they have successfully defended in a T20 World Cup match. With 3 wins from as many matches, the Proteas are all but assured of a place in the next round - the Super 8s.
As per MCC Law for a dead ball, 20.1.1.3 "The ball becomes dead when a batter is dismissed. The ball will be deemed to be dead from the instant of the incident causing the dismissal."
Hence, the ball became dead as soon as the umpire raised his finger. So, it didn't matter whether the batter was eventually adjuticated out or not. Even if it had hit the bat and the umpire gave it out, the runs earned on that delivery would stand null and void and that rule probably came to haunt Bangladesh as they ended up four runs short eventually.
Bangladesh needed 26 off 23 balls at that point and even though Towhid Hridoy got a boundary in the same over and the equation came down to 20 off 19, that rule did play its part in the Shanto-led side falling short. Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj eventually won it for South Africa but the rule became a huge topic of debate, with many including cricketers like Jaffer calling it for it to be changed by the ICC given it could potentially cost a team in the semi-final or a final and hence the trophy.
Bangladesh batter Towhid Hridoy, speaking in a post-match press-conference, was unhappy with the decision as they lost the match to the Proteas.
"To be honest that was not a good call for us in such a tight match. In my point of view, the umpire gave that out but it was pretty hard on us. Those four runs could have changed the match scenario," Hridoy told reporters following the game.
"The laws are not in my hands. In that time those four runs were really important. Umpires can make a call and they are human too and can make mistakes. They also didn't give wides which were wides on a few occasions. In this kind of a venue where low-scoring matches are taking place, one or two runs are a big thing. I think those four runs or two wides are close calls and I was given out on umpire's call and there are room for improvements," he said. Hridoy, who scored 37 off 34, was given out LBW off a KagisoRabada delivery where the replays showed that the ball was just about clipping the leg stump.
"Actually we were very much confident with that score and from that position I should have finished the match. It is difficult for new battter to go and adjust to the conditions. In that position I should have finished the match," Hridoy said.