TimesofIndia.com in Dubai: Sri Lanka head coach Sanath Jayasuriya praised Abhishek Sharma and Pathum Nissanka, while questioning the “grey areas” in cricket after a controversial Super Over incident in the last Super Four match of the Asia Cup.“Abhishek Sharma is playing his natural game, and they have encouraged him to play his natural game. That’s the key, because if someone is playing naturally, we need to encourage him to continue that,” Jayasuriya told reporters after the match.
“But whenever he wants to slow down, he knows how to do that as well. After six overs, if he wants to bat longer, he’s managing it. Day by day, he’s getting experience and batting really well. The good thing is that the coaching staff has given him the license to play his natural game. That’s the key,” he added.Abhishek scored a blazing 61, almost cancelled out by Pathum Nissanka, whose 107 off 58 balls brought Sri Lanka close to victory.“I think Pathum played a brilliant innings to get that total, but unfortunately, he got out on the first ball of the last over. That was a bit unfortunate. But right through those 20 overs, he batted really well to get 100 and put 202 runs on the board. Unfortunately, his dismissal in the last over proved to be the turning point,” he said.Jayasuriya also explained why centurion Pathum Nissanka didn’t bat in the Super Over.“He was carrying a hamstring injury during the last two games and we were a little worried about him,” he revealed.The Super Over ControversyIn the Super Over, drama unfolded with a bizarre incident. Arshdeep Singh struck on the first ball, dismissing Kusal Perera. On the fourth delivery, Dasun Shanaka missed, and Sanju Samson pouched it cleanly as Arshdeep appealed for caught behind. The umpire raised his finger despite no edge, even as Samson threw down the stumps for a run-out. Sri Lanka argued the ball was dead once the caught-behind decision was given, and the umpire agreed, overturning the run-out. It mattered little, as Shanaka fell on the very next ball.“I think that’s just the rules. According to the rules, if you appeal for the catch, then Dasun had to go by the third umpire’s call. The first decision always counts, not the second one. So he went for the replay, and it was not out. That’s what happened. But I think there are a few areas from this game that will need review to fine-tune the rules,” Jayasuriya said.Here’s what rule 20.1.1.3 of the rule book says: “The ball is dead when a batter is dismissed. The ball will be deemed to be dead from the instant of the incident causing the dismissal.”This meant that despite the batter being clearly run out, the ball was deemed dead the moment Sanju completed the catch and the umpire gave it out.
