The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has said the run out of Pakistan batter Salman Agha in the second ODI was within the laws of the game. It also said Bangladesh could have withdrawn the appeal in the spirit of cricket.
The incident took place at the Sher-e Bangla National Cricket Stadium. It involved Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Agha at the non striker’s end.
MCC said the umpires made the right call. Agha was outside his crease and the ball was still in play.
“Under the laws, there is little that either umpire could have done differently,” MCC said. “The non-striker was clearly out of his ground when the wicket was broken, and the ball was in play. That is out.”
The moment came after a clash between Miraz and Agha while fielding a shot from Mohammad Rizwan. The ball went loose after the contact.
Agha then bent down, thinking the ball was dead. He tried to pick it up. Miraz reacted fast. He collected the ball and hit the stumps while Agha was still out of his ground.
MCC also warned Agha about his action.
“No batter should attempt to pick up the ball without the consent of the fielding side,” MCC said. “Had he done so, he would have been at risk of an ‘obstructing the field’ dismissal.”
There were claims that the ball should have been called dead. MCC rejected that idea.
“The ball does not become dead when players collide,” MCC said. “There was no serious injury, the ball had not settled, and at least one fielder clearly believed it was still live.”
MCC added that even under a new law coming in October, the decision would stay the same as the ball was not settled during an active run out attempt.
However, MCC said the moment still raises a debate. “It certainly would have been possible for Mehidy, as Bangladesh captain, to withdraw his appeal,” the statement said.
After the match, Agha said he was not happy with the decision. He added that he would have chosen sportsmanship if he was in that position.
