Controversial LBW Decision Sparks Outrage in Women’s Premier League
In a bizarre turn of events during the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 match between UP Warriorz and Royal Challengers Bangalore, UP Warriorz’ Chamari Athapaththu was controversially dismissed LBW. The incident has raised questions about the accuracy of the Decision Review System (DRS).
Facing a delivery from Georgia Wareham, Athapaththu was initially given not out by the on-field umpire. However, RCB captain Smriti Mandhana opted for a review. To the astonishment of the players and spectators, the ball-tracking technology showed that the delivery would have hit the stumps, suggesting it was a googly and not a leg-spinner as initially perceived.
The decision left Athapaththu and her non-striking partner Alyssa Healy perplexed. Healy was caught on camera exclaiming “no way, no way” in disbelief. The dismissal proved to be a turning point in the match, as UP Warriorz went on to lose by 23 runs.
UP Warriorz coach Simon Lewis expressed his frustration with the decision. “You watch the ball with the naked eye, and you think it might pitch in line, just maybe,” Lewis said. “Then you look at the ball rotating, and well, it’s rotating like a legspinner. There are not many legspinners that go towards that [other] side. It was a fascinating dismissal and a massive turning point for us in that game.”
Lewis believes that if Athapaththu had remained at the crease for a longer period, the outcome of the match could have been different. “Chamari is an amazing player and you saw how difficult it was when a left-hander and a right-hander were batting together, of the quality of Smriti [Mandhana] and Ellyse Perry,” Lewis said. “To lose her in that way was incredibly frustrating.”
The incident has sparked concerns about the reliability of DRS. Cricket experts and fans have questioned whether the technology is accurate enough to make such crucial decisions. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has yet to comment on the matter.
