Pakistan’s fast bowler, Diana Baig, has finally addressed the controversy surrounding Muneeba Ali’s run-out against India in Colombo, confirming that the issue has been resolved.
The Women’s World Cup match between India and Pakistan on Sunday was marred by a contentious incident during Pakistan’s pursuit of a 248-run target.
During the fourth over’s last ball, India appealed for an LBW against Muneeba off Kranti Gaud’s bowling, a decision the on-field umpire initially turned down.
Though Muneeba had safely grounded her bat behind the crease, a quick throw from Deepti Sharma at slip hit the stumps. Crucially, Muneeba lifted her bat at that precise moment, leaving no part of her body grounded behind the popping crease.
What followed was a moment of utter confusion. The third umpire’s decisions flashed conflicting verdicts on the big screen. Initially, the ‘not out’ signal sent Indian players back to their marks, but then it abruptly changed to ‘out,’ sparking surprise for Muneeba and enthusiastic celebrations from the Indian team.
After Pakistan’s 88-run defeat, Diana Baig commented, “Muneeba’s run-out issue has, I believe, already been resolved. I prefer not to dwell on it now. Whatever the circumstances were, I think it’s been sorted out.”
Having been dismissed for just 2 runs off 12 balls, Muneeba looked to the on-field umpires for clarification. She even paused her walk back to the pavilion after receiving signals from her team’s dugout.
The delay continued for several minutes as Pakistan captain Fatima Sana engaged in discussions with fourth umpire Kim Cotton while Muneeba remained on the pitch. Eventually, the captain signaled for Muneeba to depart, bringing the confusing stoppage to an end.
According to ICC Playing Condition 30.1.2, a batter is not considered out of their ground if, after running or diving and grounding their person or bat beyond the popping crease, they momentarily lose contact with the ground or their bat. This rule outlines the intricacies of such dismissals.
This contentious moment sparked considerable debate during the high-stakes match and undoubtedly etched another memorable, albeit controversial, chapter into the intense cricketing rivalry between India and Pakistan.
Muneeba’s dismissal ultimately proved to be a pivotal point in the game. Pakistan found it challenging to recover from this early setback, struggling to keep pace with India’s target.
India eventually secured a dominant victory, underscoring just how impactful the controversial run-out decision was on the final result.