It all looked routine until it suddenly wasn’t. Early in Pakistan’s chase against India at the Women’s World Cup in Colombo, opener Muneeba Ali found herself wandering out of her crease after an lbw appeal, only to be ruled run-out – twice – by the video umpire. A short but awkward delay followed while players, officials and the big screen tried to work out what had actually happened.
Fourth over, Kranti Goud bowling, India appeal for lbw. Muneeba’s front foot is planted, her bat grounded behind the line. Thinking the ball is dead, she eases forward, lifts the bat a fraction. From slip, Deepti Sharma sends the ball back, strikes the stumps, bails off. Technically, it’s a run-out. Or is it?
The ICC playing condition in question – 30.1.2 – is clear enough on paper yet tricky in real time. “However, a batter shall not be considered to be out of her ground if, in running or diving towards her ground and beyond, and having grounded some part of her person or bat beyond the popping crease, there is subsequent loss of contact…”. The key phrase is “running or diving”. Muneeba was neither; she had merely taken a casual step.
Up on the giant screen appears “NOT OUT”. India move back to their positions, the crowd murmurs. Seconds later the verdict flips to “OUT”, sparking celebrations from the fielding side and visible bewilderment from the batter. Third umpire Kerrin Klaaste seems to have watched one replay, decided, watched another, and overturned herself. It happens, but rarely in such public, back-to-back fashion.
Muneeba begins the slow walk off. Halfway, she turns. From the dug-out, captain Fatima Sana waves her to wait. Sidra Amin, next in, hovers at the rope, pads on, bat under arm, unsure whether to cross the rope. Sana wanders over to fourth umpire Kim Cotton, still seeking clarity. The chat is polite but firm; Pakistan simply want to know why the TV graphic changed.
Players on both sides mill about, tying shoelaces, drying the ball, anything to stay loose. It is only a few minutes, yet feels longer. Eventually, a nod from Cotton, a shrug from Sana, and a resigned gesture from Muneeba: she is indeed out. Amin jogs in, the game restarts.
Analytically, the decision is correct. Once Muneeba lifted her bat, with no momentum carrying her forward, she was vulnerable. In the laws’ language she was “merely stepping”, not “running or diving”, so the protective clause did not apply. Still, the double signal on the screen muddied the message, and Pakistan’s brief protest was understandable.
Former umpire Simon Taufel, speaking on commentary, summed it up neatly: “It’s a technical dismissal, and when those visuals aren’t sequenced cleanly it can be confusing for everyone.” He added that the third umpire is within her rights to change her mind until the final decision is relayed on field.
By the time the dust settled, the innings had lost rhythm and a slice of momentum. That, more than the wicket itself, may irritate Pakistan most. Yet India will argue Deepti’s throw was smart, exploiting a lapse in concentration. Both viewpoints can coexist without fuss.
No one doubted the spirit remained intact. Muneeba accepted the ruling, Sana managed the discussion respectfully, and umpiring protocols – while exposed as a touch clunky – ultimately delivered the right answer. A small incident, perhaps, but another reminder that even in the professional era the laws of cricket can still tie players, officials and spectators in knots.
