South Africa captain Temba Bavuma hailed Quinton de Kock for being “clever” when Fakhar Zaman was controversially run out in the second ODI between Pakistan and South Africa on Sunday.

Fakhaw was dismissed for 193 in the final over of the match, running back to the keeper’s end for a second run. The Pakistan opener appeared to be deceived by de Kock behind the stumps, slowing down and turning around as de Kock pointed towards the non-striker’s end. Distracted, Fakhar was left short of his ground as Aiden Markram’s throw rattled the stumps.

Had de Kock been cited as deliberately deceiving Fakhar by the umpires, Pakistan would have been awarded five runs with the batsman remaining not out – as pointed out by the MCC, Law 41.5.1 states: “It is unfair for any fielder wilfully to attempt, by word or action, to distract, deceive or obstruct either batsman after the striker has received the ball.”

After the match, Bavuma praised de Kock and appeared to suggest that his move was a deliberate one: “Maybe some people might criticise it for maybe not being in the spirit of the game,” Bavuma was quoted as saying. “But it was an important wicket for us. Zaman was getting close to our target. Yeah, it was clever from Quinny.

“You’ve always got to look for ways especially when things are not going your way, got to find ways to turn the momentum around. Quinny did that. I don’t think he broke the rules in any kind of way. It was a clever piece of cricket.”

Nonetheless, Bavuma’s statement appeared at odds with what fellow teammate Tabraiz Shamsi said on Monday, with the wrist-spinner arguing that de Kock wasn’t speaking or pointing at the batsman, and that “he was asking a fielder to back up at the non-striker’s [sic] end”.

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