Hamza Shaikh given out for obstructing the field at Under-19 World Cup
2024.02.05
The England batter picked up a ball that had stopped in the crease by his feet
When Hamza Shaikh of England was thrown out for obstructing the pitch against Zimbabwe, he made sure that his experience at the Under-19 World Cup would live on forever.
Shaikh stopped a ball by his feet in the 17th over, and Ryan Kamwemba, the wicketkeeper for Zimbabwe, began to go from behind the stumps to retrieve it. Then, as is common with hitters, Shaikh knelt to pick up the ball that was now motionless in the crease and pass it back to the fielders.
The appeal was initiated by Ryan Simbi, the bowler, and Kamwemba. It was forwarded to the third umpire, Nigel Duguid, by on-field officials Donovan Koch and Masudur Rahman.
In the past, the dismissal method would have been handled the ball; however, in 2017, MCC said that this dismissal method and obstruction of the field were essentially the same.
The applicable Law, 37.4, states: “Either batter is out Obstructing the field if, at any time while the ball is in play and, without the consent of a fielder, he/she uses the bat or any part of his/her person to return the ball to any fielder” .
Not surprisingly, social media responded. Stuart Broad wrote, “Oh, get a grip,” on X. “Is he returning the ball to the fielder, stationary? extending a helping hand to him! Not able to distribute that.”
Retweeting a video of the ejection, Sam Billings only said, “Wow.”
In a Test match against New Zealand at the end of the previous year, Mushfiqur Rahim was thrown out for obstruction of the field when he punched a ball away after defending it down into the crease.
@charith
