Mohammad Hafeez critical of "technology curse" after Pakistan suffer Australia defeat

Pakistan's new team director took particular issue with the controversial decision to give out Mohammad Rizwan on review, with the ball adjudged to have flicked the wristband of his glove on the way through to Alex Carey

Mohammad Hafeez criticised "inconsistent" umpiring in Pakistan's 79-run defeat by Australia in the second match of the three-Test series.

Pakistan's new team director took particular issue with the controversial decision to give out Mohammad Rizwan on review, with the ball adjudged to have flicked the wristband of his glove on the way through to Alex Carey rather than his forearm.

At the time, the tourists needed exactly 100 runs to beat Australia at the MCG, but Rizwan's demise, which was followed by a conversation with on-field umpire Joel Wilson, brought on a dismal collapse that saw the final five wickets fall for just 18 runs inside seven overs.

"We made some mistakes as a team, we will take that, we will address those things," said Hafeez. "But at the same time I believe inconsistent umpiring and technology curse has really given us the result which should have been different. I feel like these are the areas that need to be addressed."

He described Rizwan as "a very honest person" and claimed that the wicketkeeper, who missed the first Test, denied to him that the ball had brushed his glove on the way through, with Richard Illingworth the third umpire who decided that there was conclusive evidence to the contrary.

"The umpire gave it not out and there was no conclusive kind of evidence where the decision has to be turned over," said Hafeez.

^{Pat Cummins dismissed Mohammad Rizwan on the way to a 10-wicket haul in the match (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)}

"Technology, I'm in favour of that, but if it's giving you benefit. If it's bringing some doubts and bringing some curse into the game, it should not be accepted by anyone. Sometimes the technology brings some decisions which obviously, as a human we don't understand."

Hafeez, in his first series at the helm after replacing Mickey Arthur following Pakistan's performance at the World Cup, also bemoaned the intricacies of umpire's call decisions, arguing that marginal lbws should be dealt with differently. "The ball hitting the stump is always out," he said. "Why is it umpire's call? I never understand that.

"So, I think there are a lot of areas that need to be addressed for the betterment of cricket in general. I think technology is something that is taking away from the instinct of the game."

Separately, the former Pakistan allrounder praised his players' overall performance, suggesting that they had played the "better cricket" than Australia, keeping their hosts in check for much of an excellent Test match. Had they taken their chances in the field, particularly when Mitchell Marsh was dropped on 20 by Abdullah Shafique at slip, things might have been different. He went on to make 96, while Pat Cummins claimed 10 wickets in the match.

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