Pakistan Cricket Board has lodged a formal complaint allegging that Bangladesh took a review after seeing the reply on the big screen in the stadium, which is strictly against ICC protocol.
By SA startup
16 March 2026 Saudi Arabia _Riyadh
"PCB files formal complaint: Did Bangladesh Cheat with a 'Big Screen Review in the the 3rd ODI?"
1. The Drama: Describe the tension of the final over.
2. The Rule Break: Explain the ICC DRS protocol (no external help allowed).
3. The impact: How the overturned wide cost Pakistan the match.
PCB files formal complain did a big screen reply rob Pakistan in the 3rd ODI match, the controversy isn't just about a loss; it's about a specific DRS rule violation.
• The Penultimate Ball: With Pakistan needing 12 of 2 balls, a delivery to Shaheen Shah Afridi was called a "wide."
• The "Illegal" Review: Bangladesh appealed for LBW and reviewed. Eplays showed a spike on UltraEdge (meaning it hit the bat), so while it wasn't LBW, the "Wide" was overturned to a dot ball.
•The Outcome: This changed the equation from 11 off 2 balls to 12 off 1 ball. Shaheen Shah Afridi was stumped on the final delivery, and Bangladesh sealed their first Series win over Pakistan in 11 years.
• The Protest: PCB`s complaint focuses on the 15-second timer and the use of external help (the big screen) to decide on the review.
Mirpur, Dhaka in a dramatic and controversial finish to the three match ODI Series, Bangladesh secured a historic 2-1 ODI Series win over Pakistan, but the has been overshadowed by allegations of a major protocol breach.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially lodged a formal complaint with match referee Neeyamur Rashid, questioning the legality of a crucial DRS review in the final over of the match.
Hossain delivered a ball that spun sharply down the leg sid. On field umpire Kumar Dharmasena immediately signaled a "Wide." For Pakistani, this was a lifeline-it meant the equation shifted to 11 runs needed from 2 balls, with an extra delivery to spare.
However, after a brief huddle and a significant delay, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto signaled for an LBW review.
The decision left spectators and the Pakistani dugout baffled, as the ball was clearly sliding well past the leg stump and nowhere near the batsman's pads.
The "Big Screen" Allegation
The core of the PCB’s grievance lies not in the result of the review, but in how and when it was taken. According to sources within the Pakistan team management, Bangladesh only opted for the review after a replay of the ball was prematurely flashed on the stadium’s giant big screen.
ICC DRS protocols are very strict: players must make a decision to review within 15 seconds and, more importantly, without any external assistance. The rules explicitly state that if a replay is shown on the big screen before a review is signaled, the umpire should technically disallow the request.
"The Pakistan team management believes Bangladesh took the review after a replay of the delivery flashed up on the big screen," a source close to the team confirmed. Furthermore, Pakistan argues that the 15-second timer had already expired by the time the signal was made to umpire Dharmasena.
How a "Not Out" Cost Pakistan the Game
Ironically, Bangladesh lost the LBW review.
The UltraEdge technology showed a clear "spike" as the ball passed the toe-end of Shaheen Afridi’s bat. Because the ball hit the bat, it could no longer be classified as a "Wide."
This technicality turned a wide into a dot ball.
Instead of needing 11 runs from 2 balls, Pakistan was suddenly left with the impossible task of hitting two sixes off a single delivery—or 12 runs off 1 ball. On the final delivery, a frustrated Shaheen Afridi was stumped while attempting a wild swing, ending the match and hand-delivering the series to Bangladesh.
What’s Next for Pakistan?
While the match result is unlikely to be overturned, the PCB is seeking clarity on the umpiring standards.
Head coach Mike Hesson reportedly met with the match referee immediately following the game to express the team's "extreme disappointment" over the lack of protocol enforcement.
This controversy comes at a sensitive time for Pakistan cricket, following a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign and growing pressure on the new leadership.
Despite a brilliant century from Salman Ali Agha (106 off 98 balls), the team's inability to close out tight games remains a major talking point.
The Verdict
For Bangladesh, this is a monumental achievement—marking their first ODI series win against Pakistan in over a decade.
For Pakistan, however, the "Mirpur Mystery" will be remembered as a match where technology was used as a weapon against the spirit of the game.
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