Umpire Daryl Harper of Australia

Few of the senior Indian players including the captain, Dhoni came out with their concern about the level of umpiring in the first test match at Sabina Park. The winning team’s captain stated in a press conference after the match that if the umpires had given the correct decisions the match would have been over a long time before.

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Fingers were pointed towards umpire Daryl Harper and six of his decisions in the whole test match, which were given wrongly. Dhoni’s dismissal – caught at point, apparently came off a no-ball because leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo had cut the return crease. In another case, replays showed that the ball never touched Suresh Raina’s glove or bat when he was given out, again off Bishoo. Harbhajan Singh was adjudged leg-before when the ball looked like sailing over the stumps. West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul survived a clear bat-and-pad decision. Darren Bravo too survived a clear leg-before as well as a caught behind, the players said. Apart from the decisions, removing debutant Praveen Kumar from the attack for stepping on to the danger area was harsh since it was only his first Test.

Indian team members are united in their stand against umpire Harper and have been accused of being biased towards the home side which is highly unwanted. Harper has never been in the limelight for good reasons. He is considered as the worst umpire in the ICC elite umpires’ list and the ICC has asked Harper to step down from the Elite Panel after serving for nine years – a decision taken much before the Jamaica Test. ICC is not interested in extending the contract for Harper which will end in July 2011.

India now wants the ICC to ensure that Harper does not stand in the third Test at Windsor Park, Dominica, where he’s scheduled to officiate.

Tags: Cricket, Daryl Harper, India, Test Series, Umpire, West Indies