Nitin Menon's Howler Brings Back Nightmare Umpiring of The 1990s at Asian Games
No DRS was available to overturn the umpire's decision.
Nitin Menon’s decision during the Sri Lanka-Bangladesh Asian Games bronze medal match sparked a moment of disbelief after Sri Lanka batter Nuwanidu Fernando was given out in a decision that left him visibly stunned. With no Decision Review System available to challenge the call, Fernando had to leave the crease despite appearing unconvinced by the dismissal.
The incident occurred during the bronze medal contest between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, where Menon was serving as one of the on-field umpires. Fernando reacted with disbelief immediately after the decision, staring towards the umpire before making his way away from the crease.
The dismissal brought renewed attention to the limitations faced by players when the DRS is unavailable. Without the technology to review the umpire's call, the decision could not be challenged through the review system, leaving Fernando and Sri Lanka with no immediate avenue to contest it.
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Menon is the only Indian umpire among the ICC's 12-member elite panel and has officiated at the highest level of international cricket. His decision in the match nevertheless became a major talking point, with the incident drawing attention because of the apparent uncertainty surrounding the dismissal.
The moment also revived memories of an earlier era of international cricket, when on-field decisions could not be reviewed and players had to accept an umpire's call regardless of whether replays later raised questions about it. In this case, the absence of DRS meant the decision stood once it had been made.
The incident added a controversial moment to the Asian Games bronze medal match, with Fernando's reaction highlighting his frustration at the decision. With no review available, the dismissal remained in place as Sri Lanka continued their contest against Bangladesh.
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