(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] The International Cricket Council (ICC) clarified why Aiden Markram was not given out in the match against Pakistan on Friday despite the Proteas batter wandering out of his crease and Mohammad Rizwan removing the bails with an underarm throw.
In the close encounter between South Africa and Pakistan, Temba Bavuma and Co. managed to escape with a one-wicket win over the Men in Green in the 26th fixture of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, which took place in Chennai.
The match witnessed some engrossing and gripping moments, and one of them involved Markram, who scored 91 runs, and Pakistani wicket-keeper Rizwan.
In the 17th over of the second innings innings, Pakistani pacer Haris Rauf bowled a cross-seam delivery to Markram. He tried to play a pull shot but the contact between bat and ball did not happen. The ball went straight to Rizwan’s gloves as he collected it and instantly dipped his head down to the ground.
A replica of an incident that took place during the Ashes 2023 at Lord’s between Jonny Bairstow and Alex Carey’s stumping gate happened again in Chennai, where Rizwan, with his underarm throw, crushed the stumps when he saw Markram getting out of his crease.
The ICC stated that the umpires had no action to take because no Pakistan team members requested a run-out decision. If an appeal had been made, the match officials would have needed to review the replays. Also, the ICC cited three laws regarding a dead ball:
“The ball becomes dead when it is finally settled in the hands of the wicket-keeper or of the bowler.”
“The ball shall be considered to be dead when it is clear to the bowler’s end umpire that the fielding side and both batters at the wicket have ceased to regard it as in play.”
“Whether the ball is finally settled or not is a matter for the umpire alone to decide.”
The action of Rizwan lowering his head and the time elapsed between him catching and throwing the ball would likely have led the umpires to declare the ball inactive had Pakistan made an appeal. Additionally, Markram left the crease after bumping his bat.