A ‘Mankad’ dismissal in the Under 19 Cricket World Cup quarter-final between Afghanistan U19 and Pakistan U19 has sparked a heated debate over the Spirit of Cricket.

The incident occurred during the 28th over of the chase, with Pakistan well set on 127-2 in pursuit of the target of 190 set by Afghanistan. Having already dismissed Fahad Munir lbw with the first ball of the over, 15-year-old Noor Ahmad pulled out of his run-up and put down the stumps at the non-striker’s end. A TV umpire review showed that Mohammad Huraira, unbeaten on 64, was standing outside of the crease with his bat in the air, and so was given out.

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— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) January 31, 2020


There was no warning given by the Afghanistan bowlers in previous deliveries, and the Afghanistan team soon came in for stick on social media for violating the nebulous Spirit of Cricket, including from Mohammad Wasim, a former Pakistan international cricketer. “Not a pretty scene in any type of cricket,” he tweeted, “especially on junior level”.

However, former West Indies fast bowler and ICC commentator Ian Bishop had a different view, feeling that, with Afghanistan’s actions legal within the laws of the game, the spirit of cricket need not come into it.

“It’s not a character thing,” he said. “Law 41.16.6.1 says if the non-striker is out of his ground at any time from the moment the ball comes into play until the instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, the non-striker is liable to be run out. Whether it is at the moment he would expect the ball to be released, that’s up to the third umpire.”

Bishop explained that, for him, the Spirit of Cricket is about the manner in which players conduct themselves, rather than attempting dismissals allowed within the laws of the game.

“A lot of people would look at these young men and disparage their character,” he said. “To me that is wrong. This is the law. The emphasis of Spirit of Cricket should be for the non-striker to stay in his ground until the release of the ball. I want coaches to tell young players to stay in the crease and watch the bowler. Tell them to obey the laws of the game.

“The spirit of the game has to do with the way New Zealand carried [injured batsman Kirk] McKenzie off the field, it means not using language that you’re ashamed for children to hear, whether you’re a spectator in the ground or a player on the field, and saying it’s a grown man’s game. Hitting someone with your shoulder, or using choice words: That is not the spirit of cricket. This is a law. These young kids, they have done nothing wrong.”

Despite the wobble, and the controversy, Pakistan went onto record a comfortable six-wicket victory, and set up a semi-final clash with rivals India.