The third umpire’s decision to declare Pakistan opener Muneeba Ali run out during their 88-run Women’s World Cup loss to India was “entirely correct,” according to the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which clarified on Monday that there was no deviation from the Laws of Cricket.
Muneeba escaped an LBW appeal from Kranti Gaud on the final ball of the fourth over of Pakistan’s pursuit of 248 at Colombo on Sunday.
However, Deepti Sharma’s throw struck the stumps as she emerged from her crease. After a third-umpire review by Kerrin Klaaste of South Africa, Muneeba was dismissed for two after briefly grounding her bat, which was in the air when the ball struck.
The judgment led to heated discussions, with Pakistan captain Fatima Sana Khan claiming that Muneeba had already grounded her bat and had no intention of running.
But in its statement, the MCC, which is in charge of upholding the Laws of Cricket, reiterated that the dismissal was in accordance with them.
It quoted Law 30.1.2, which states “a batter shall not be considered to be out of his/her ground if, in running or diving towards his/her ground and beyond, and having grounded some part of his/her person or bat beyond the popping crease, there is subsequent loss of contact,” something that might have protected Muneeba.
“This Law means that if you are running or diving towards the end that the stumps are broken, and you ground your bat or person behind the line, you are not out if you then lose contact with the ground and the wicket is subsequently broken. Muneeba had grounded her bat beyond the popping crease after being hit on the pads, and her bat subsequently lifted. Isn’t this exactly what the Law covers?”
“The answer to that is no the Law specifically only covers a player who is running or diving – and Muneeba was not moving towards her ground. She had taken guard from beyond the popping crease and at no time did her feet move back into her ground.”
“This Law, which was introduced in 2010 and is sometimes referred to as the ‘bouncing bat Law’, is to protect a batter who inadvertently loses contact with the ground as they move towards the stumps, either with their bat bouncing up or just with both their feet being airborne through the natural process of running.”
“It does not protect a batter who is turning for another run, overbalancing, or who as in Muneeba’s case – simply lifts their bat into the air. The third umpire was entirely correct to give this Out,” the MCC clarified.
The MCC went on to say that the dismissal method was adjudged correctly.
“It’s a Run out – although she was not attempting a run, and it was not a No ball, the wicket was not broken by the wicket-keeper without the intervention of another fielder – it was instead a fielder who threw it. So the decision, correctly given by the umpires, is Out, Run out.”
India finished with a decisive victory after scoring 247 and dismissing Pakistan for 159 in 43 overs.
