KARACHI: On day one of the Sydney Test, Pakistan captain Shan Masood was caught out on a slip but a wrong replay was aired on TV.
This led netizens to raise questions, however, according to ICC regulations, umpires directly decide regarding front-foot no-ball based on footage made available to them not what is shown to the viewers.
When Masood got out in the 26th over, he remained on the crease since it was a no-ball, but in the 30th over, he was caught by Steve Smith on Mitchell Marsh's delivery once again. This time the delivery was deemed legal.
The questions arose in the minds of fans when it was seen during the replay that when Masood got out, the broadcast from the wide camera angle showed that Masood himself was on the non-striker's end.
This replay was aired on TV to let viewers know that it was not a no-ball but fans have raised questions on social media based on this footage.
According to ICC regulations, TV umpires receive real-time footage from four different cameras to check no-balls. With the help of this footage, they review the front foot on every delivery.
If a clear no-ball is identified, an immediate signal is relayed to the on-field umpire through a pager. If there's any doubt, the replay operator in the umpire room shows the on-field umpires the replay of the front foot for the no-ball.
A TV director and a senior umpire, part of the broadcast, informed Geo News that it is not necessary that the footage the third umpire is reviewing is the same footage being shown on the TV broadcast.
While the decision during Masood's dismissal might have been an error in the broadcast, there is less possibility that the TV umpire based his decision on viewing the same footage being shown on the TV broadcast.
It must be noted that Pakistan were dismissed for 313 on the opening day of the third Test against Australia.
In reply, Australia safely negotiated an over-to-head to stumps at 6-0. Warner, playing his final Test, smashed a four on the first ball by Sajid Khan to begin his innings.
Aamer Jamal scored a crucial fifty lower down the order to help Pakistan post a competitive total on the board.
Jamal and tailender Mir Hamza added 86 runs for the last wicket to get Pakistan past 300 despite being reduced to 227-9 at one stage.
Jamal scored 82 runs in 97 balls, which included nine fours and four sixes.
Earlier, Mohammad Rizwan and Agha Salman took the attack to Australia to help Pakistan recover from a rocky start.
After slipping to 96 for five soon after lunch, Rizwan and Salman stitched a pulsating 94-run partnership before Rizwan was dismissed just before tea for 88.
Rizwan, who was left out for the first Test, smashed two sixes and 10 fours off 103 balls before he fell to a legside trap set by Australian captain Pat Cummins.
Cummins, who was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 5-61, became the first Australian to take three consecutive five-wicket hauls in Tests since Nathan Lyon in 2017.
Faizan Lakhani Faizan Lakhani is Deputy Editor (Sports) at Geo News.
