Watch: A stumping error by Azam Khan proved to be costly for Desert Vipers in the ILT20 final against Dubai Capitals yesterday (February 9).
The incident happened in the eighth over of Dubai's run chase. Leg spinner Nathan Sowter bowled a flighted delivery down the leg side. Rovman Powell, batting on two, stepped out of his crease, trying to play it on the on side but missed the line of the ball. Azam, standing behind with his gloves on, neatly collected the ball and quickly removed the bails.
Just when the batter was on his way to the pavilion and Azam was celebrating with his teammates, replays by the third umpire showed that the wicketkeeper's gloves weren't wholly behind the stumps when he had collected the ball. The decision was reversed as the delivery was deemed as no ball.
MCC Law 27.3.1 states that "The wicket-keeper shall remain wholly behind the wicket at the striker’s end from the moment the ball comes into play until a ball delivered by the bowler touches the bat or person of the striker or passes the wicket at the striker’s end or the striker attempts a run.
Law 27.3.2 further adds: "In the event of the wicket-keeper contravening this Law, the striker’s end umpire shall call and signal No ball as soon as applicable after the delivery of the ball."
Taking the above two laws into consideration, it can be safely said that Azam wasn’t "wholly" behind the stumps when he took off the bails and the umpire fairly called it as a no-ball.
Haris Rauf left the field midway through his seventh over during Pakistan's ODI against New Zealand, sparking concerns for his fitness ahead of the Champions Trophy.
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) February 8, 2025
READ: https://t.co/LOijP6vPyP#PAKvNZ #HarisRauf #ChampionsTrophy2025 pic.twitter.com/lkRWPVlBB6
Powell, having earned a life, immediately made the bowling team pay. After the next ball was called a wide, the West Indies all-rounder dispatched a half-tracker over deep mid-wicket region, straight into the crowd.
He smashed two more sixes along with seven fours en route to his 38-ball 63 to help the Vipers gun down 189 in 19.2 overs. Dubai would be kicking themselves for that missed opportunity as the dismissal could have reduced the chasing team to 46-4.
Watch: Azam Khan's erroneous stumping proves costly
Drama drama drama! 🥵
— International League T20 (@ILT20Official) February 9, 2025
An erroneous stumping ➡️ No ball declared ➡️ Batter called back ➡️ Wide ➡️ Free Hit hit for 6️⃣
And ALL that action in just ONE BALL! It's all happening out there! 💥#Final #DPWorldILT20 #TheFinalPush #AllInForCricket @DPWorldUAE @DP_World @ilt20onzee pic.twitter.com/Hlf6Im5m2l
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