Cambodia forfeited T20 international against Indonesia amid allegations of 'huge mistakes' by umpires

Cambodia became an Associate member of the International Cricket Council in 2022

A men's T20 international match was conceded after the batting side refused to play amid allegations of home umpires "making huge mistakes".

Cambodia had reached 77 in their sixth T20 against Indonesia when batter Luqman Butt was out caught behind.

Cambodia declined to continue playing and Indonesia were awarded the game by the umpires in a rare example of a concession made during a match.

The International Cricket Council "do not comment on officials' decisions".

Details of the match, played in Bali on 23 November 2023, had been scarce but BBC Sport has now received statements from the Cricket Association of Cambodia (CAC) and the ICC.

Cambodia captain Manish Sharma decided the next batter would not enter the field of play because of grievances over "multiple issues" throughout the series, with a perceived incorrect decision to give out Butt the final straw.

CAC alleges that the "umpiring level was not up to T20 international (T20I) standard" and the officials were "not aware of basic rules of umpiring and making huge mistakes".

The umpires - Geda Suda Arsa and Edi Agustinus - had previously represented Indonesia as players at senior men's and Under-19 level respectively and had made their international umpiring debut during the series.

Nearly all players and officials towards the lower end of Associate cricket are unpaid amateurs and governing bodies operate with limited resources.

The ICC added that the "match was conceded" by Cambodia and that Indonesia would be awarded ranking points as if it were a regulation victory.

What do the Laws of cricket say?

According to paragraph 16.3 of the MCC's Laws of Cricket under the section headed "Umpires awarding a match" a match shall be lost by a side which "concedes defeat" or "in the opinion of the umpires refuses to play".

It was the first time in more than 2,500 T20I matches that a match had been forfeited while it was in progress, although Rwanda did concede a T20I against Ghana during a rain delay in August 2021.

Elsewhere, Pakistan forfeited the fourth Test against England at The Oval in August 2006 after their players refused to take the field after tea on day four over a ball-tampering row.

In 1978, India captain Bishen Bedi conceded a one-day international in the 38th over of their chase against Pakistan in protest at the short-pitched bowling tactics of their opponents.

Cambodia and Indonesia, who are 44th and 55th respectively in the ICC's T20 world rankings, had been scheduled to play a seventh and final match later on the same day but it did not take place and was recorded as abandoned.

CAC also criticised the quality of the balls used during the series and alleged "repeated mistakes" with the scoring.

It also voiced "worries about anti-corruption protocols" citing the lack of control over personnel in the players' and match officials' areas at the venue in Bukit Jimba.

The ICC was made aware of the issues after the series was completed and advised the governing bodies of both countries that where results were achieved they would be retained as completed matches.

Responsibility for the appointment and management of the match officials for the fixtures was entirely overseen by Cricket Indonesia with no involvement from the ICC.

Cricket Indonesia has not responded to multiple requests from BBC Sport for comment.