Kolkata Knight Riders have reason to feel aggrieved, even if the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) laws suggest otherwise, in one of the most contentious decisions of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. If they decide to approach the Board of Control for Cricket in India - if they have not already - it should not come as a surprise. There is a growing perception that they should.
Since the pre-season ban on Mustafizur Rahman for reasons extraneous to cricket, the Knight Riders have had a few rough calls, including the dismissal of Angkrish Raghuvanshi, which has divided opinion over its correctness. Umpires in India have suggested that declaring him out for 'obstructing the field' may not have been appropriate, although the MCC has maintained that the decision during KKR's away match against Lucknow Super Giants on April 27 in Lucknow was in line with the laws.
But that was only one of several decisions that went against Kolkata Knight Riders. They were fined INR 12 lakh for a slow over-rate - a delay of apparently just two minutes - while umpires often take considerably longer to review wides through referrals. It is not just that instance. Umpires also did not fully check the replays in the case involving Finn Allen during their match against Lucknow Super Giants on April 9.
The New Zealander was caught by Digvesh Rathi at the boundary line, but replays suggested there was an element of doubt in the decision. It warranted a closer look. In the end, Kolkata Knight Riders lost the match off the very last ball in a thrilling finish.
The continued absence of Matheesha Pathirana, bought for Rs 18 crore, is hurting the team, which is now in eighth place with two wins and one no result from eight games. The Sri Lankan is still available, but there is a perception that the Mustafizur Rahman issue could have been handled better by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The franchise had signed him for Rs 9.2 crore.
They let him go on the advice of the BCCI but have not found a suitable replacement for the Bangladesh pacer. The injury and unavailability of Harshit Rana have also not helped, and it has been a season of struggle for Kolkata Knight Riders so far.
They are on the road for their next three games - against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad on May 3, Delhi Capitals in New Delhi on May 8, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Raipur on May 13 - before returning home at the Eden for their final three matches on the bounce.
