Umpiring controversy takes centrestage again

Jaipur: Shane Warne's Jaipur outfit has sealed its spot in the semi-finals, becoming the first team to do so in the Indian Premier League. However, fortress Jaipur, as the Sawai Man Singh stadium is being termed as after the home side's unbeaten run here, has given enough controversies for the captains to worry about.

Shane Watson's match-winning 74 was ended with a controversial run out in the dying stages of the match, when leg umpire Steve Davis turned down Delhi's vociferous appeal. And much like former India and current Kolkata captain Sourav Ganguly, his beloved colleague and Delhi captain found it right to urge fellow umpire Rudi Koertzen to refer the decision for a television replay.

Replays suggested Watson was way short of his ground, while raw footage turned to Sehwag and his Delhi teammates engaged in animated discussions with Koertzen.

It will be interesting to see how the IPL organisers view Sehwag's demeanor during his side's three-wicket defeat to Jaipur, especially after Ganguly had come in for some flak for forcing the on-field umpire to refer to a catch taken by Jaipur's Graeme Smith, who claimed to have taken it cleanly.

However, the third umpire decided against it, and Warne launched a scathing attack on Ganguly for intimidating the official while Ganguly shot back with a salvo of his own. The IPL fined both captains 10 per cent of their match fees and suspended umpire Amiesh Saheba for two games.

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