Sixers complain about seven-ball over

Bangladesh Premier League franchise Sylhet Sixers have lodged a complaint with the BPL governing council after their four-wicket loss to Rangpur Riders today against umpire Mahfuzur Rahman, who made Sylhet pacer Kamrul Islam Rabbi bowl a seven-ball over in the 16th over of Rangpur's chase of 174 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.

"Rabbi bowled an extra ball in the 17th (16th) over," said a visibly downbeat and frustrated Nabil Samad, Sylhet's left-arm spinner, after the defeat that meant that Sylhet were out of the race for the playoffs. "Rabbi reminded the umpire of the number of balls before bowling the extra delivery, but that did not change anything. I don't know if the umpire checked with the third umpire at the time; I was not at the scene at the time."

"We have lodged a complaint," added Sylhet media manager Tamzidul Islam during the press conference. "Our captain pointed out the error during the match on the field. The third umpire cross-checked and told us to lodge a written complaint."

In a close match that Rangpur skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Nahidul Islam won in the last over with two balls to spare, the extra delivery cost Sylhet one run. There was more discontent at the end of the match as the same umpire adjudged the first ball of the last over, from Tim Bresnan to Mashrafe, as being a wide delivery but it was a marginal call as the ball seemed to be going over the wide line. The Nasir Hossain-led side were not happy with the decision and some players were seen remonstrating with the umpire after Nahidul had hit the winning boundary.

Despite the decisions that went against them, Sylhet only have themselves to blame as they dropped Ravi Bopara twice at a crucial juncture in the 18th over.

On seven points from 10 matches with two more to play, Sylhet joins Chittagong Viings as the two sides that have no chance of making it to the playoffs.