Saud Shakeel displayed presence of mind in Pakistan’s 2023 World Cup fixture against Netherlands today (October 6), spotting that Netherlands had one too many men outside the inner fielding ring, reminiscent of how Eoin Morgan once had a dismissal overturned after a similar miscalculation from the fielding side.
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On his way to an enterprising half-century that rescued Pakistan from 38-3, Shakeel hit a Roelof van der Merwe delivery between long-on and mid-wicket for four and immediately appealed to the umpires for a no-ball. Netherlands had placed one extra fielder outside the thirty-yard circle, something spotted by the Pakistan No. 5. After consulting with the TV umpire Rod Tucker, the standing officials gave the no-ball. Shakeel blasted the subsequent free hit for six.
It brought back memories of a similar play by 2019 World Cup winning captain Eoin Morgan. In an ODI between England and Australia in 2014, Morgan holed out to deep mid-wicket off Michael Clarke off his third ball at the crease only to immediately turn to the umpires to inform them that Clarke bowled the ball with one too many fielders outside the inner ring.
Replays showed that Morgan carefully counted the number of fielders inside the ring before the ball before was bowled. He then played an aggressive shot safe in the knowledge that a no ball would be called once he alerted the umpires to what had happened.
Morgan went on to reach three figures in an England total of 300-8 at the Gabba. Australia eventually won an epic game, sneaking home by one wicket after James Faulkner struck 69 not out off 47 deliveries from No. 9. Faulkner put on 57 runs for the last wicket with the Australia No. 11 Clint McKay, the second highest 10th wicket stand in a winning cause in men’s ODI cricket.
