John Cena is one of the most popular and successful wrestlers of all time. His signature move, the “You Can’t See Me” gesture, is iconic and instantly recognizable. On September 21, 2023, during the first qualifier of the Caribbean Premier League between Trinbago Knight Riders and Guyana Amazon Warriors, umpire Nigel Duguid pulled off Cena’s signature gesture.
The incident occurred in the second innings when GAW captain Imran Tahir trapped TKR opener Mark Deyal for a potential LBW in the first ball of the fifth over. Deyal tried to play a sweep shot but failed to connect, with the ball directly hitting his pads.
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Imran Tahir made a huge appeal for an LBW, but Duguid turned down the appeal, perhaps to indicate that he couldn’t see the ball clearly due to the bowler’s body being in the way. Duguid’s gesture was certainly hilarious, but Tahir wasn’t amused. He straightaway went for the Decision Review System (DRS), and the replay showed that there was no bat involved and the ball was well and truly going to the stumps.
Cena Premier League 😉
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.#IYKYK #CPL2023 @JohnCena pic.twitter.com/86sacBIh0j— FanCode (@FanCode) September 22, 2023
The third umpire overturned Duguid’s decision, and Deyal was out for 15 runs. TKR went on to win the match by 7 wickets and booked their ticket to the final of the CPL. Duguid’s gesture was certainly lighthearted, but it was also a bit unprofessional. It is important for umpires to maintain their composure and seriousness on the field of play.
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However, it is also important to acknowledge that umpires are human, and they are bound to make mistakes from time to time. Tahir was right to be frustrated with Duguid’s decision, but he handled the situation well by going for the DRS. The DRS is a valuable tool that helps umpires to make the correct decision, and it is important for captains to use it whenever they feel that an on-field decision is incorrect.
Overall, the incident was a bit of a storm in a teacup. It is unlikely that Duguid will be disciplined for his gesture, but he will probably be more careful in the future.
