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A rare and dramatic incident stunned everyone during the third and final ODI between India and Afghanistan in Chennai on Saturday, June 20. Actually, Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi ended up costing his team runs because of a pitch violation.
The Men in Blue have already clinched the ongoing three-match ODI series by winning both the Dharamshala and Lucknow encounters, but Afghanistan tried their best to avoid the whitewash in Chennai, and Captain Shahidi did everything possible to keep the tourists in the match.
Hashmatullah Shahidi penalized in India vs Afghanistan third ODI
The bizarre incident unfolded in the 40th over of Afghanistan's innings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. On the last ball of the over, Hashmatullah Shahidi completed a single, and everyone expected the Afghan captain to remain on strike for the next over.
But when play resumed, Rashid Khan was standing at the striker's end instead. Soon, things became clear as Shahidi had run on the protected area of the pitch once again. The umpires had already warned him earlier in the innings, but after another breach, they decided to take action under the playing conditions.
As a result, the single taken on the last ball of the over was removed from the scoreboard. Afghanistan also received a five-run penalty. After the incident, Rashid was dismissed for just five runs by Harsh Dubey in the ongoing final ODI against India in Chennai.
Hashmatullah Shahidi ends 13-year wait with maiden ODI century
However, Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi produced one of the bravest knocks of his career in the third ODI against India in Chennai. Battling a strong Indian bowling attack, difficult conditions, and severe cramps, Shahidi finally hit his maiden ODI century after more than a decade of his career.
Shahidi reached the emotional moment with a boundary. The Afghanistan skipper removed his helmet and celebrated the long-awaited achievement as his teammates stood and applauded from the dressing-room balcony. It was a special moment for Shahidi.
The Afghan captain showed immense patience and determination as wickets kept falling around him. He carefully rebuilt the innings and helped his team to post 218 runs on the board against India.
Prasidh Krishna ends Shahidi's cramp battle after record hundred
Hashmatullah Shahidi joined Sunil Gavaskar, Arjuna Ranatunga. Shahidi’s hundred came off 126 balls, which is now the second slowest century by an Afghanistan batter in ODI cricket. The Afghanistan captain also entered an unwanted record list. His first ODI hundred came 4,644 days after making his ODI debut. It was the fourth-longest wait for a maiden century in the history of ODI cricket.
However, Shahidi’s body began to give up on him as he suffered painful cramps and looked visibly exhausted in the Chennai heat. At one stage, the physio had to rush onto the field as Shahidi struggled with discomfort in different parts of his body.
Despite the pain, Shahidi showed remarkable fighting spirit and continued batting. Later, Indian pacer Prasidh Krishna dismissed the Afghanistan captain for 102 runs from 131 balls laced with 13 boundaries and one six. Shahidi played a pull shot but found Shreyas Iyer waiting in the deep.
