PAK vs WI: Babar Azam Fields With Wicketkeeper's Glove; Pakistan Face Five-Run Penalty
Published - 11 Jun 2022, 12:38 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 06:21 AM
Pakistan cricket team on Friday was penalised five runs after skipper Babar Azam donned wicketkeeper’s gloves while fielding during the second One-Day International match against West Indies at the Multan Cricket Stadium.
The incident happened during the first ball of the 29th over of the West Indies innings. Pakistan spinner Mohammad Nawaz bowled Alzarri Joseph and the batter defended the in-drifter through an inside edge. Babar, who was placed at square leg, fielded the ball wearing the wicketkeeping glove on his right hand.
Consequently, West Indies were awarded five runs as Babar’s act breached the laws and Nawaz ended up conceding six runs off the first delivery.
Why did Babar Azam fielding with the keeper’s glove cost Pakistan five runs?
According to Law 28.1 on Protective equipment: No fielder other than the wicket-keeper shall be permitted to wear gloves or external leg guards. In addition, protection for the hand or fingers may be worn only with the consent of the umpires.
However, the penalty didn’t make any difference in the result of the match. Pakistan comfortably defended their 275 in the second innings as the visitors were bowled out for 155 in 32.2 overs. Nawaz (4/19) and pace bowler Mohammad Wasim Jr (3/34) led the bowling charts for Pakistan while defending the competitive score.
I was confident that our spinners would bowl well: Babar Azam
Leg-spinner Shadab Khan chipped in with a couple of wickets and Shaheen Afridi dismissed the previous game’s centurion Shai Hope upfront in the chase as Pakistan won by 120 runs and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
“The wicket was double-paced early on. We wanted to build a partnership as we knew it’d be tough for new batters. I was confident that our spinners would bowl well. Nawaz was outstanding, he picked wickets at crucial moments,” Babar said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
Earlier in the game, Babar (77) and Imam-ul-Haq (72) scored clinical half-centuries as Pakistan posted 275/8. The duo completed successive stands of 100-plus runs with the 120-run stand in the second ODI.
