A huge question mark was put on umpiring during the 1st Test match between Australia and Pakistan when the on-field umpires constantly ignored no-balls. There were many incidents when the bowlers over-stepped and the umpire was unable to identify the no-ball.
21 no-balls were not given during the 1st innings of Australia. This happened after the controversial decision on Mohammad Rizwan’s wicket when he was given out on a clear no-ball off Pat Cummins’s bowling.
This has given a wake-up call to International Cricket Council (ICC) to rethink their stance on the no-balls. Should they change the technology? Are they over-burdening the umpires?
With the advanced technology available for every minute detail, ignoring the no-balls can be a real drawback for the game. This is the right time for ICC to step in and take an important decision on this burning issue.