Hawk-Eye Acknowledges Error in PSL Match, Apologizes to PCB

Hawk-Eye, the ball-tracking technology used in cricket, has issued an apology to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after acknowledging an error in a crucial decision during Thursday’s Pakistan Super League (PSL) match between Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators.

The incident occurred in the 11th over of the Gladiators’ innings. With the score at 82-4, Gladiators captain Rilee Rossouw attempted a sweep shot off the bowling of Salman Ali Agha but missed, with the ball hitting his pad. Umpire Aleem Dar gave him out LBW, prompting a review from the Gladiators.

However, Hawk-Eye’s ball-tracking technology determined that the ball had not only hit Rossouw outside the line of the stumps but also would have missed the wickets altogether. This decision surprised both the fielding side and umpire Dar, as replays appeared to show the ball turning in and hitting the pads.

In a letter addressed to the PCB Chief Operating Officer and Production Department, Hawk-Eye acknowledged that the ball tracking for the delivery in question did not reflect the path of the actual delivery. The cause of the error remains unclear.

Shadab Khan wasn’t happy with the decision as Islamabad United lost the match

Islamabad United captain Shadab Khan expressed his frustration after the match, stating that the technology made a “match-changing mistake” and that such errors should not occur in major tournaments.

The erroneous decision proved pivotal as Rossouw went on to score an unbeaten 34, guiding the Gladiators to a comfortable five-wicket victory. With a crucial partnership alongside Sherfane Rutherford, Rossouw helped his team chase down the remaining 57 runs with nine overs to spare.

The incident has sparked concerns about the reliability of Hawk-Eye technology and its potential impact on the outcome of matches. The PCB and Hawk-Eye are expected to investigate the cause of the error and take steps to prevent similar occurrences in the future.