The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has confirmed that the third umpire’s decision to declare Pakistan‘s Muneeba Ali run out during their 88-run defeat to India in the Women’s World Cup was correct and followed the Laws of Cricket.During Pakistan’s chase of 248, Muneeba faced a delivery from Kranti Gaud in the fourth over’s final ball that led to an lbw appeal.While she was out of her crease, Deepti Sharma’s throw hit the stumps. Although Muneeba had initially grounded her bat, it was in the air when the ball struck the stumps, resulting in her dismissal for two runs after a review by third umpire Kerrin Klaaste.The decision sparked a debate, with Pakistan’s captain Fatima Sana Khan contesting that Muneeba had no intention to run and had already grounded her bat.The MCC, as the guardian of cricket’s laws, released a statement confirming the dismissal’s validity.“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.”“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 provided additional clarification about the type of dismissal.“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 posted a score of 247 and dismissed Pakistan for 159 in 43 overs to secure a convincing victory.
