Pakistan won by two runs after Bangladesh could score only six of the nine runs required from the final over bowled by Aizaz Cheema.

Enayet Hossain Siraj, chairman of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) cricket operations committee, told reporters on Saturday that Cheema had deliberately blocked batsman Mahmudullah in the final over, and thus prevented him from scoring another run.

He said the BCB would demand five penalty runs which if granted could force the ACC to reverse the result.

Pakistan Cricket Board director Intikhab Alam called Bangladesh’s stance “disappointing” while adding, “The fact of the matter is that no match umpire or referee complained about this to the Pakistan management and Bangladesh’s complain will spoil a wonderful final which everyone enjoyed.”

While it is highly unlikely that the ICC or the ACC are going to consider a result reversal simply for the precedent it may set, it is bound to create fissures between the BCB and PCB.

As cricket’s governing body ponders over this, it is worth asking whether this move is within the spirit of the game.

Is the bowler entitled to hold his ground while the batsman runs around him as has become the practice over the years?

Even though it is well within the laws of the game, is this in any way similar to a batsman blocking the view and throwing off a fieldsman while he attempts a run?

Should an incident such as this be dealt with by the match referee on the field then and there if one team feels hard done?

And finally, should the role of the umpires and TV technology be broadened to settle such grievances at the sake of continued stoppages during the game?