Cricket is called ‘gentleman’s game’, but it has no less controversies. Especially when it comes to the decisions of the umpires, there have been some decisions which have changed the course of the entire match. In many matches, wrong decisions have made the difference between victory and defeat and these decisions have been discussed for years. There are 5 umpires in the cricket world who have been in the most controversies and whose decisions are still alive in the minds of cricket fans.
Steve Buckner: West Indies’ Steve Buckner was once considered one of the most experienced umpires, but over time his decisions led to a long series of controversies. The match played between India and Australia in the 2008 Sydney Test is still associated with his name. In this match, he gave ‘cat behind’ out to Sourav Ganguly, when replays clearly showed that the bat had no edge. This one decision changed the outcome of the match and questions were raised on Buckner’s decision.
Billy Bowden: New Zealand’s Billy Bowden was famous for his unique style and umpiring style, but his career has also not been untouched by controversies. During the 2011 World Cup semi-final match between India and Pakistan, he gave out LBW to Sachin Tendulkar, even though the ball went beyond the stumps. Bowden’s umpiring was questioned for giving a wrong decision in this big match.
Daryl Harper: Australia’s Daryl Harper has been one of those umpires whose decisions often dissatisfied both the teams. His decisions have often been questioned, especially when he gave Sachin Tendulkar out in a match between India and Pakistan in 2011, which was later proven wrong on review. His wrong umpiring caused anger among both players and spectators.
Rudy Kortzen: South African Rudy Kortzen was known for his calm demeanor and slow ‘angli uncha’, but his career has also been surrounded by controversy. His decisions against India in the 2008 Sydney Test made the match so controversial that India raised questions on the impartiality of umpiring during that series. Many of his decisions went against the Indian team, due to which a question mark has been raised on the transparency of the game.
Aleem Dar: Pakistan’s Aleem Dar is considered one of the best umpires of ICC, but some of his decisions have also been very controversial. The decision to not out England’s Stuart Broad against Australia in the 2013 Ashes series surprised everyone. Brode had clearly bowled the ball at slip, but Dar’s vision could not catch that edge. This decision cast a dark shadow on his career.
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