New Delhi: While England seals the three-match Test series against Pakistan, a new debate about Saud Shakeel’s dismissal has erupted on the internet. TV umpire Joel Wilson is being criticised for the dismissal while the Pakistan fans thought that the ball was touching the ground as Ollie Pope took the catch. It was a close call with things being uncertain, Wilson checked a few angles and gave his decision.
The ball that ended Saud Shakeel’s fantastic innings. #PAKvENG | #UKSePK pic.twitter.com/kssvis9RdH
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 12, 2022
The netizens are pouring in with criticism on Twitter. Joel Wilson has been in such controversies earlier also and has become an easy target for Pakistani fans this time.
Even OLLIE POPE looked confused after taking the catch,He wasn’t convinced that He took the catch clearly
MICHEAL ATHERTON ENGLAND’s ??????? commentator isn’t pleased with the decision as well but JOEL WILSON had another idea#PAKvENG pic.twitter.com/MmDZujmzJB— Farooq Alam (@AlamFAR786) December 12, 2022
Joel Wilson I think you need some kind of glasses that can zoom it pic.twitter.com/JQgQBnLWnD
— Hassan?? (@Mushahi06003522) December 12, 2022
Meanwhile, various memes are erupting on the internet.
Le joel Wilson pic.twitter.com/D6nCbCgaPx
— Ashuuu (@ayyyyy_ashu99) December 12, 2022
Very very poor umpiring. Joel wilson is the umpire with most wrong decisions ????? pic.twitter.com/J7A5wbr43D
— Irfan Ahmad (@IrfanAh78452877) December 12, 2022
That clearly was not out, the ball was dragged along the ground. What an awful decision to give Saud Shakeel out by Joel Wilson, especially in the context of the game. Poor umpiring. #PAKvENG #BBCCricket pic.twitter.com/uylTzkbFzd
— Jas (@MilkChocolate63) December 12, 2022
Take out a print of this picture and show it ten times a day to Joel Wilson until he shows which fingers are under the fking ball that he could see but we can’t??#PAKvENG pic.twitter.com/c6948kev33
— Hamza (@HamzaMughal321) December 12, 2022
Joel Wilson has been god awful as third umpire in this match. Not following through with drs procedure in reviews. Not giving the benefit of the doubt to the batter. Unable to see a grounded ball (for a batter on 93). Takes every bit of excitement out of the match. Terrible stuff
— Aisha A (@landlawlahore) December 12, 2022
Joel Wilson is one of the worst umpires on field as well as on TV.
“Saud Shakeel was clearly not out,”#PAKvENGpic.twitter.com/zTlEIlxHdc pic.twitter.com/8vQKO88B31— Mazhar Ali (@mazhar5ali) December 12, 2022
3 years ago, Joel Wilson gave this historic not out. He is blind. #PAKvENG pic.twitter.com/XguABZ9wHq
— Shoaib Niazi (@ShoaibNiaziUN) December 12, 2022
Saud Shakeel played well in the first inning and was at 94 when Joel Wilson’s decision got him out. From being in a comfortable position with Shakeel batting, Pakistan stood at 291/7 while chasing 355. He could have played a match-winning inning but the controversial decision helped England win the second Test match.
In the game, England posted 281 in the first inning with half-centuries from Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope, while debutant Abrar Ahmed picked seven wickets. Jack Leach used his spin web to pick up four wickets and halt Pakistan on 202. It was Babar Azam’s 75 and Saud Shakeel scoring 63 that helped their side to cross the 200 mark. Abrar Ahmed came roaring in the second inning and picket four wickets while Harry Brook’s century put England in a comfortable position.
Pakistan entered the second inning with a changed batting order. Mohammad Rizwan opened the inning with Abdullah Shafique, but after a good opening stand, the top order collapsed. It was Saud Shakeel with 94 (213) and Imam-ul-Haq with his 60 (104) who tried to collect things together for men in green, but Mark Wood’s four-wicket haul led to England’s victory.