Mahela Jayawardene wants 3rd umpire intervention in high waist deliveries

Mahela Jayawardene, the head coach of the Mumbai Indians (MI), believes that there should be a discussion about whether the third umpire should alert the on-field umpires for over-the-waist no-balls. 

Still, he doesn't condone the role of Delhi Capitals' (DC) players and support staff in the controversy that erupted during their game against Rajasthan Royals (RR) last week.

Jayawardene is also a member of the International Cricket Council's Cricket Committee, which governs international cricket's playing conditions.

"The umpires probably got it wrong, but the rules indicate you can't go to the third umpire or check on those things," Jayawardene said on the ICC Review.

"I think we should look into coming forward: whether the third umpire can come on the field and inform the primary umpires that it's a delivery you should check." But, in the spirit of the game and to keep things moving forward, no coach or player should ever be allowed on the field.

"We are given the option to come out in the IPL during the strategic time-out, and that should be the only time the coaches or anyone else is allowed," Jayawardene added.

The third umpire checks all front-foot no-balls in current playing conditions. The on-field umpires can review the delivery height if it results in a dismissal, but the ball in question went for a six.

The IPL fined three members of the Delhi Capitals squad for violating the code of conduct. Captain Rishabh Pant, assistant coach Pravin Amre, and bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur. Pant was fined the entire match fee, as did Amre, who was also given a one-match suspension; Thakur was fined a 50% match fee.

After the third delivery of the penultimate over of the Capitals' chase, Pant asked Amre to walk onto the field to speak with the on-field umpires. Capitals needed 36 runs from the final over to tie the game at 222. From the first three balls, Rovman Powell smashed three straight sixes.

However, the third ball was a high full toss. If it had been ruled a no-ball, the Capitals would have received a free hit, with the equation reading 17 from four deliveries.

Pant asked Powell and his batting partner Kuldeep Yadav to leave the field while protesting with the umpires. Amre was eventually sent in to talk to the umpires. Pant admitted later in the post-match interview that he got carried away in the "heat of the moment" but maintained that it was a no-ball and that the third umpire may have "interfered."

Jayawardene was not pleased with what he witnessed. "That is disheartening to watch. You're stopping the game, and people are streaming onto the field," he stated. 

"But I honestly feel that was just emotions. It was only the last over, there had been a couple of sixes, and there was maybe a chance [for Capitals to chase down the mark]."

When the issue was discussed in the Mumbai dressing room, Jayawardene stated he told them the same thing. He explained, "We saw it on TV. Most of the guys watched it together, and we also talked afterwards. We'll probably respond in the dugout, but going onto the field is never an option. That's not how things should be done, but I'm sure Rishabh and Pravin would be disappointed.

"And Rishabh correctly stated in his interview that it happened because of the emotions. So we should give Pant the benefit of the doubt and move on."

It's unclear whether the ICC Cricket Committee will bring up the waist-high no-ball issue at its next meeting for debate. 

The IPL, on the other hand, does not need to wait for the ICC to ratify such a modification before implementing it. As a result, the soft signal for disputed catches was removed from the IPL playing conditions in 2021, and the on-field umpires were relieved of the obligation of checking short runs.