Last Updated on 8 months by Charbel Coorey

Cricket News: Sri Lanka captain Wanindu Hasaranga says it’s much better if Lyndon Hannibal did another job

Sri Lankan captain Wanindu Hasaranga has slammed umpire Lyndon Hannibal following his team’s three-run defeat in the third and final T20I against Afghanistan in Dambulla. Needing 11 off the final three balls to chase down Afghanistan’s 209, bowler Wafadar Momand delivered a full toss that was well above Kamindu Mendis’ waist.

Mendis, despite shuffling down the pitch, would still have had the delivery pass over his waist had he been standing in his natural position at the popping crease. According to the rules set by the ICC, this should mean a no ball.

However, umpire Lyndon Hannibal did not call a no ball and Hasaranga was seething after the match.

“Much better if he did another job” – Wanindu Hasaranga lays into umpire Lyndon Hannibal

Hasaranga did not mince words. He was very critical of umpire Hannibal, even suggesting it’d be better if he found another job.

“That kind of thing shouldn’t happen in an international match,” Hasaranga said. “If it had been close [to waist height], that’s not a problem. But a ball that’s going so high… it would have hit the batsman’s head if it had gone a little higher.

“If you can’t see that, that umpire isn’t suited to international cricket. It would be much better if he did another job.”

Could Sri Lanka have reviewed the decision?

Mendis asked for a no ball and is believed to have requested a review on the field. But, players and umpires are not allowed to ask for a review when there is no dismissal involved. Hasaranga was also disappointed with that aspect.

“There was a situation where you could review those calls before, but the ICC has got rid of that,” said the Sri Lankan captain.

“Our batsmen tried to review that. If the third umpire is able to check the front-foot no-ball, he should check this kind of no-ball as well. There’s no reason why they can’t. They didn’t do even that, so I’m not sure what was going on in his (the square-leg umpire’s) mind at the time.”

“If you can’t see that, that umpire isn’t suited to international cricket. It would be much better if he did another job.”

Wanindu Hasaranga talking about umpire Lyndon Hannibal after the third T20I between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.

Afghanistan’s three-run win was their only victory of their tour. Sri Lanka took out the T20I series 2-1 after winning the ODI series 3-0 and the one-off Test by ten wickets.