DHAKA: Officials announced Tuesday that Bangladesh will file a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) amid charges of biassed umpiring and “unbearable” sledging in the first Test against South Africa.

The team was enraged after numerous close decisions went against them in Durban, where they were competitive for the majority of the match before being dismissed for 53 in the second innings due to a batting collapse.

Players have since chastised their opponents for on-field taunts that they claim bordered on abuse.

“You all have seen how biased the umpiring was. On the field, sledging was also unbearable,” Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) cricket operations chief Jalal Yunus said.

“We will write a formal complaint to the ICC match referee manager,” he added.

After their 2-1 one-day international series win — their first on South African soil — Jalal said they addressed similar concerns with match referee Andy Pycroft.

“Our manager spoke to him several times. But he paid no attention to our complaint,” Jalal said by phone from Durban.

“We want the ICC to appoint neutral umpires in Test series as soon as possible. We are also ready to welcome neutral umpires in our home series,” he said.

Since 2020, when the pandemic enforced worldwide travel restrictions, only umpires from host countries have been utilised, and South African umpires Marais Erasmus and Adrian Holdstock were standing in the Durban Test.

Umpires did not act as South African players sledged their Bangladeshi opponents, according to captain Mominul Haque.

“Sledging is a normal thing. But if it comes to the stage of abuse, that is very bad,” he said.

“I think they abused us in the worst manner and umpires did not notice.”

After the tourists’ batting collapse in the second innings, South Africa won by 220 runs at Durban.

The second Test will begin on April 8 in Gqeberha.

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