Image Credit- ICC
When Hamza Shaikh of England was thrown out for
obstructing the pitch against Zimbabwe, he made sure that his time 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 move from behind the
stumps to collect it. Then, as is common with batters, Shaikh knelt to pick up
the ball that was now stationary in the crease and pass it back to the
fielders.
The appeal was led 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 claimed that this dismissal method and
obstruction of the field were essentially the same.
The relevant Law, 37.4, reads: “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”.
Unsurprisingly, there was reaction on social media.
“Oh get a grip,” Stuart Broad posted on X. “He’s passing a
stationary ball back to the fielder? Doing him a favour! Cant give that
out.”
Sam Billings retweeted a video of the dismissal,
simply adding: “Wow.”
Late last year Mushfiqur Rahim was given out
obstructed the field in a Test against New Zealand when he punched a delivery
away after defending it down into the crease.