Watch: Controversy was generated during the T20I series decider between Afghanistan and Ireland yesterday (March 18), when a wicket was overturned despite Ben White‘s heel appearing to be behind the line.
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Ireland had restricted Afghanistan to 83-3 by midway through the 13th over of their innings. Ben White pitched one up, and Mohammad Ishaq slogged the ball straight down Curtis Campher’s throat at deep mid-wicket. However, it was immediately signalled as a no ball by the umpire, with Ishaq having to scramble back to avoid being run out.
When the replays were shown on the TV coverage, White’s heel looked to have made first contact with the ground behind the line, before his foot slid forward over the line. On looking at the replay, Niall O’Brien said on commentary: “That, to me, is not a no ball.”
Spot the difference
On two occasions in this series, Ben White has now been denied wickets by the on-field umpire calling a no ball.
Does he have reasons to feel aggrieved on both counts? pic.twitter.com/gkeIN4j6Uw
— Nathan Johns (@nathanrjohns) March 18, 2024
“It might have been another situation where it wasn’t a no ball and it was caught,” replied Mike Haysman, referring to a similar incident in the first T20I of the series. White was bowling on that occasion at well, and Mohammad Nabi was caught at deep extra cover. The no ball was quickly called, despite White’s foot appearing to have landed behind the line on the replays. On that occasion, Ireland captain Paul Stirling spoke to the umpires on the pitch about the issue, but to no avail.
While Ireland went on to win that match by 38 runs, they came out on the other side of the third T20I. After restricting Afghanistan to 155-7, they were bowled out for 98, their third lowest total in men’s T20Is against Afghanistan. Azmatullah Omarzai took figures of 4-9, the sixth-best bowling figures for Afghanistan in T20Is. The result secured a 2-1 series win for Afghanistan.
