Pakistan team director Mohammad Hafeez on Friday said that “inconsistent umpiring” and the “curse” of the technology cost Pakistan a famous Test victory over Australia at the MCG.

“We made some mistakes as a team, we will take that, we will address those things. But at the same time I believe inconsistent umpiring and technology curse [has] really given us the result which should have been different,” Hafeez said while addressing the post-match press conference.

The statement came on the back of a third-umpire decision which adjudged wicketkeeping batter Muhammad Rizwan out as Pakistan was chasing a target of 317 for victory in the fourth innings. He was adjudged caught behind off the wristband of his glove via a DRS review after initially given not out by the on-field umpire.

According to Hafeez, Rizwan told him that the ball did not touch anywhere near the gloves.

“I spoke to [Rizwan] and he’s a very honest person. He said he did not even feel that it touched anywhere near the gloves. And what we saw, there should be conclusive evidence to reverse the decision of the umpire. That’s what I know. The umpire gave it not out and there was no conclusive kind of evidence where the decision has to be turned over,” the former Pakistan captain said.

Soon after Rizwan was out, Pakistan’s batting collapsed and the visitors lost five wickets for 18 to lose the game inside four days and lose the series 2-0 with one Test remaining.

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The 1992-champions have long claimed of the victim of DRS technology. The recent such instance was during the ODI World Cup when pace bowler Haris Rauf caught South Africa’s Tabraiz Shamsi before the wicket in their must-win game.

Pakistan took a review after the on-field umpire decided it was not out. Shamsi was declared not out on Umpire’s Call as the ball would have been gone on top clip the stumps in the DRS review. The decision effectively sealed Pakistan’s fate in the World Cup, following their one-wicket loss to South Africa.

While not DRS, Pakistan were left fuming during a game against India in the T20 World Cup 2022 after a controversial decision.

Batting first, Pakistan set a target of 160 runs for India at the MCG.

However, as the match entered the last over Virat Kohli smashed a full toss for a six over midwicket. The umpires, to the displeasure of the Pakistan players, signaled a no-ball and India needed just 6 runs off 3 deliveries.

Despite then Pakistan skipper Babar Azam’s appeals, the umpires stood by their decision.

Kohli smashed a stunning half-century to lift India to a four-wicket win on the final ball of the innings.