Mumbai: For a change, instead of disciplining players, Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle ‘disciplined’ the hosts of the ongoing Test ? the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA). He intervened, on Monday, after a potentially very damaging act by the operator of one of the two video screens at the Wankhede.

The operator ruled Mahendra Singh Dhoni run out even before TV umpire K. Hariharan gave his verdict! Thankfully, Hariharan made the same decision or, as a well-placed source of The Telegraph put it, “there could have been chaos and worse.”

While the TV feed was stopped immediately (and won’t be restored), Madugalle ticked off the MCA for “violating” all guidelines governing replays on video screens. For example, till the TV umpire has made up his mind, the replays have to be shown at “normal speed.”

There was a violation, which didn’t get noticed, on Sunday as well and the agency handling the screens “apologised.” Monday’s incident, of course, was extraordinary.

In fact, not clear about where the official lights were, Dhoni walked off on seeing the ‘Out’ verdict on the video screen to the right of the pavilion. To say the least, Hariharan would have been in an awkward position had his decision been different.

Indeed, there could have been a riot had the operator ruled ‘Not Out’ with Hariharan’s verdict being entirely different. The MCA, which is headed by Board supremo Sharad Pawar, has plenty to learn.