Hawk-Eye apologises to PCB after technical failure cost Islamabad United a loss in PSL 2024

Hawk-Eye has admitted that it made a mistake in assessing whether a batter was out or not during the eighth fixture of Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 9. The controversial incident took place during the match between Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Friday. 

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In the 11th over of the Gladiators’ batting innings, off-spinner Agha Salman's delivery hit the pads of rival skipper Rilee Rossouw. On-field umpire Aleem Dar raised his finger after the lbw appeal, but Rossouw challenged the decision and sent it upstairs. However, the ball-tracking technology showed a trajectory that did not match the actual delivery bowled by Salman. 

Umpire Dar was asked to reverse his decision and left the United camp disappointed. The Gladiators' skipper remained unbeaten on 34 to take his team over the finish line in a low-scoring encounter. Following United's three-wicket loss, captain Shadab Khan expressed his frustration as he felt the technical error cost his side the game. 

“I think technology made a mistake. The ball-tracking showed a different delivery, and it was a match-changing moment. These sorts of things should be sorted out properly in such a big tournament. These mistakes should not happen. I bowled four overs here as a legspinner, and I don’t think the ball was spinning here. And they showed Agha [Salman]’s delivery hitting outside off stump and spinning away. I don’t buy that,” Shadab said.

Hawk-Eye, a computer vision system, later admitted that it was an error from its end and also apologised to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in a letter. It accepted that the ball tracking shown during the review did not reflect the trajectory of the actual delivery. 

There have been many criticisms of DRS technology in recent times. In the third T20I between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, Lankan skipper Wanindu Hasranga pointed out an incorrect umpire decision. England captain Ben Stokes after his side's massive 434-run loss against India in the third Test, demanded a DRS rule change reflecting on opener Zak Crawley’s dismissal.