India to complain against Dar's dubious decisions

LONDON: Simmering after the dubious dismissal of star batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid in the series decider, Team India management has decided to lodge an official complaint with the International Cricket Council.

"We'll lodge a complaint with the ICC about the decisions," administrative manager of the side Rajeev Shukla said.

Dar did little to enhance his reputation as one of the better umpires around by giving two dubious decisions, which reduced India to 59 for four.

Tendulkar was out in the 16th over when Andrew Flintoff induced a loose drive from the batsman and though the ball went past the bat without any contact, Dar upheld England's appeal that had Tendulkar livid.

Television replays also showed it was only his bat clipping the pad that made a noise but Dar felt otherwise. That cut short Tendulkar's 46-ball stay in the middle yielding 30 runs in his final ODI appearance on British soil.

The Lord's crowd booed Dar for the poor decision.

Earlier, Dar erred in his decision and ruled Dravid out for a duck off Flintoff.

Flintoff had pitched it on back off a length and there was a noise as Dravid dropped his bat. Dar again upheld the vociferous appeal of the English side as Dravid shook his head in disbelief and grumpily walked off.

Shukla asserted that India would not just grin and bear it and said, "We will follow whatever is the procedure and lodge a complaint."