Quetta Gladiators withdrew their appeal against Agha Salman in the Pakistan Super League game today (February 22), after Mohammad Wasim’s foot prevented him from grounding his bat before the bails were taken off.

Islamabad United were collapsing batting first in Lahore, having lost three wickets in as many overs before the incident. Salman, however, was on 31 off 20 balls and on strike to Wasim.

He worked a back of a length ball to Rilee Rossouw at mid-wicket and set off for a quick single. Rossouw threw the ball in to the non-striker’s end and Salman had to scramble to make his ground. Just as Salman put in a dive, Wasim stepped in front of him to take the ball from Rossouw’s throw, which was coming in wide of the stumps. Salman’s bat hit the side of Wasim’s foot squarely, and he was unable to slide his bat past the crease line. While Salman was kneeling short of his ground, Wasim had plenty of time to take the bails off. Had Wasim’s foot not been there, Salman would have made his ground easily.

Wasim appeared to appeal to the umpire immediately, but quickly withdrew once Rossouw, captain of Quetta Gladiators, ran in to discuss the situation. The commentators, however, were divided on whether the dismissal should have stood.

“I can see you looking at me Simon [Doull] and I think you think, well why is that not out?” said Dominic Cork on commentary.

“I don’t see Mohammad Wasim Jr coming in front of Salman Ali Agha [deliberately],” said Sana Mir. “His bat got stuck to his boot. In good spirit of cricket they have not appealed but overall if you see, Mohammad Wasim is not at fault here. He is just going to collect the ball and the bat is stuck to his boot.”

“I think Sana is right, it’s the batters job to make their way,” said Waqar Younis.

The Laws of Cricket only bar “wilful” obstruction of a batter. Law 41.5.2 clarifies that “It is for either one of the umpires to decide whether any distraction, deception or obstruction is wilful or not.”

Agha was out in the following over attempting to sweep Abrar Ahmed but instead hitting the ball straight to Khawaja Nafay. His wickets left Islamabad United 87-5 in the 12th over of the innings.

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