Former ICC umpire Daryl Harper has said that he believes Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni deliberately wasted time to let the Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana bowl against Gujarat Titans in the IPL Qualifier at Chennai.
Matheesha Pathirana was not on the field for eight minutes and as per the IPL playing conditions, a player leaving the field to treat an internal injury or for any other reason for more than eight minutes needs to be on the field for a similar duration when he returns before being eligible to bowl.
MS Dhoni got his pacer to bowl the 16th over when Gujarat need 71 for victory.
A conversation between MS Dhoni and the umpires follow and the former India captain was apparently told that Matheesha Pathirana won’t be allow to bowl for eight minutes which was how long he was off the field.
By the time the conversation ended, eight minutes had elapse and Matheesha Pathirana eventually bowl his over.
Daryl Harper wasn’t impress and said :
This is not the first time the Australian umpire has displease with MS Dhoni.