A human error in the Hawk-Eye decision-review system (DRS) overshadowed the Quetta Gladiators’ thrilling three-wicket victory over Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) on Thursday. During the Gladiators’ chase of 145 runs, a crucial LBW decision against Rilee Rossouw went their way thanks to DRS. However, Hawk-Eye later admitted to a “human error” in displaying incorrect ball-tracking data, sparking controversy and frustration from the Islamabad camp.
The incident occurred during the 18th over when Rossouw attempted a sweep shot off Salman Agha. The on-field umpires initially ruled him out LBW, but the DRS showed the ball missing the stumps, overturning the decision. The twist came after the match, when Hawk-Eye acknowledged that the displayed ball-tracking data was incorrect due to “operator error.” Although the system correctly tracked the delivery, the displayed visuals were misleading.
Islamabad United captain Shadab Khan expressed strong displeasure with the technological mishap, claiming it directly impacted the outcome of the match. “I think technology was at fault for this loss,” he stated. “We were shown a different ball as to the review. In a big tournament like this, there shouldn’t be such mistakes.” He further highlighted the crucial nature of the decision, emphasizing the challenging conditions he faced as a leg spinner and the misleading trajectory shown by the incorrect data.
Despite the controversy, the Gladiators secured their third victory of the season, joining Multan Sultans at the top of the points table. Rilee Rossouw played a key role with a crucial 34 runs, while Mohammad Amir’s unbeaten 11 runs ensured they chased down the target with two balls to spare.
While the Gladiators celebrate their hard-fought win, the shadow of the Hawk-Eye error looms large. The incident raises concerns about the reliability of technology in high-stakes matches and highlights the need for robust systems and procedures to prevent such human errors.
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